C   3.i"*.^0? 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFOBNIA 

DAVIS 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.archive.org/details/fisheriesofuniteOOunitrich 


DEPARTMENT  OF  COMMERCE  AND  LABOR 
BUREAU  OF  THE  CENSUS 

E.   DANA  DURAND,  DIRECTOR 


SPECIAL  REPORTS 


Fisheries 
OF  THE  United  States 


1908 


washington 
Government  printing  office 

1911 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

iNTBODUCnON. 


Scope  and  method. 
Common  names 


Comparison  with  statistics  of  previous  canvasses. 


CHAPTER  II. 
Summary  of  Statistics. 


Fisheries  of  the  United  States,  by  states:  1908  . 


PersonB  employed 

Proprietors  and  independent  fishermen. 

Wage-earners  and  wages 

Comparison  with  prior  censuses 


CHAPTER  III. 
Persons  Employed,  Salaries,  and  Waoes. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Capital  and  Equipment. 

Vessels  and  boats 

Vessels  and  boats,  by  divisions 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 

Table  1. — Equipment  and  other  capital :  1908 

Table  2. — Apparatus  of  capture:  1908 

Table  3. — Number,  tonnage,  and  value  of  vessels  and  boats:  1908 


CHAPTER  V. 
Pkoducts. 


Table  1.— Products,  by  general  classes:  1908  and  1900  to  1904 

Table  2. — Products,  by  species  and  by  geographic  divisions:  1908 

Table  3. — Products,  by  class  of  fisheries,  apparatus-of  capture,  and  geographic  divisions:  1908. 

Table  4. — Products,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture:  1908 

Table  5. — Products — Detail  summary,  by  states  and  by  species:  1908 

Table  6. — Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture  and  by  states:  1908 


CHAPTER  VI. 
Pkoducts  of  the  Principal  Fisheries  in  Detail. 


Alewives  . . . 

Bluefish 

Buffalo  fish . 

Carp 

Catfishes 

Clams 

Cod 


Crabs. .  . . 
Flounders. 
Haddock.. 
Hake 


Halibut 

Herring 

Lake  herring. . 

Lake  trout 

Lobster 

Lobster,  spiny. 


Page. 
47 
48 
48 
49 
51 
52 
52 
54 
56 
56 
57 
57 
58 
59 
60 
61 
62 


Mackerel 

Menhaden 

Mullets 

Mussels 

Oyster 

Pike  perches 

Pollack 

Salmon 

Shad 

Shrimp  and  prawn . 

Skins 

Snappers 

Sponge 

Squeteague 

Sturgeons 

Whale  products 

Whitefish 


7 

9 

10 


13 


14 
16 
17 
18 


19 
20 
21 
21 
22 
22 
23 


26 
26 
29 
30 
34 
44 


62 
63 
64 
65 
66 
68 
69 
69 
71 
72 
73 
74 
74 
74 
75 
76 
77 


(3) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
Fisheries,  by  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California.  . . 
Connecticut. 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

IlUnoig 

Indiana 


Page. 

79 

82 

84 

91 

96 

100 

110 

113 

■ 120 

Iowa 124 

Kansas 126 

Kentucky 127 

Louisiana 130 

Maine 138 

Maryland 145 

Massachusetts 152 

Michigan 165 

Minnesota 173 

Mississippi 178 


Missouri 185 

Nebraska 188 

New  Hampshire 189 

New  Jersey 189 

New  York 195 

North  Carolina 211 

Ohio 217 

Oklahoma '. 221 

Oregon 221 

Pennsylvania 225 


Rhode  Island . . 
South  Carolina. 
South  Dakota.. 

Tennessee 

Texas 


231 

237 

241 

242 

24g 

Virginia 251 

Washington 262 

West  Virginia 270 

Wisconsin 270 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Canning  and  Pkesbbvino. 

Comparison  with  earlier  canvasses 280 

Statistics,  by  geographic  divisions 280 

Products,  by  kind 281 

Salmon 282 

Sardines 283 

Cod 284 

Oysters 285 

Shrimp  and  prawn 285 

Table  1. — Fish  and  oysters — value  of  food  products:   1908 286 

Table  2. — Fish  and  oysters — products,  by  geographic  divisions,  method  of  treatment,  and  kind:    1908 287 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Exports  and  Imports. 

Comparison  with  domestic  production 288 

Comparison  of  exports  and  imports 288 

Exports 289 

Imports 290 

Table  1.— Exports  of  domestic  fishery  products:   1908,  1900,  and  1890 291 

Table  2. — Value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery  products,  by  country  to  which  exported:   1908,  1900,  and  1890 291 

Table  3. — Imports  of  fishery  products,  by  kind  and  country  from  which  imported :  1908,  1900,  and  1890 292 

Table  4. — Value  of  imports  of  fishery  producta,  by  country  from  which  imported :    1908,  1900,  and  1890 293 

APPENDICES. 


Appendix  A.— The  fisheries  of  Alaska  in  1908 297 

Appendix  B. — Schedules: 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 300 

Vessel  fisheries 301 

Packing  houses  and  canneries 301 

Appendix  C. — Instructions  to  special  agents 303 

List  and  description  of  kinds  of  fish 307 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


DEPARTMENT  OF  COMMERCE  AND  LABOR, 

Bureau  of  the  Census, 
Washington,  D.  C,  July  27,  1911. 
Sib: 

The  act  of  Congress  of  June  7,  1906,  provides  that  the  Bureau  of  the  Census  shall  take  decennially,  in 
cooperation  Avith  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  a  census  of  the  fishing  industry  of  the  United  States. 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  the  report  on  the  fisheries  of  the  United  States  for  the  calendar  year 
1908,  which  has  been  prepared  in  conformity  with  the  requirements  of  this  law.  The  report  presents  statistics 
concerning  the  capital  invested  in  the  industry,  the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels  and  boats  employed,  the 
character  of  the  apparatus  used  in  catching  fish,  the  number  of  persons  employed,  salaries  and  wages  paid,  and 
the  quantity  and  value  of  the  different  varieties  of  products.  Statistics  of  this  character  are  collected  from 
time  to  time  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  and  as  far  as  possible  the  census  data  have  been  compared  with  those 
compiled  by  that  bureau.  In  order  to  preserve  this  comparability  and  also  to  comply  with  the  requirements 
of  the  law,  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  was  consulted  in  regard  to  the  preparation  of  the  schedules,  and  several 
employees  of  that  bureau  were  detailed  for  work  in  the  Bureau  of  the  Census.  These  employees  rendered 
valuable  assistance,  both  in  the  office  and  in  the  field.  The  statistics  were  collected  and  the  report  was  pre- 
pared under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  William  M.  Steuart,  chief  statistician  for  manufactures. 
Very  respectfully, 


ifO  U^A^^H-A-A.  6(^^ 


Director  of  the  Census. 
Hon.  Charles  Nagel, 

Secretary  of  Commerce  and  Labor. 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES. 


CHAPTER  I. 
INTRODUCTION. 


Scope  and  method. — The  present  report  on  the  fish- 
eries of  the  United  States  relates  to  the  commercial 
fisheries  of  continental  United  States  for  the  calendar 
year  1908,  and  is  based  on  a  canvass  of  these  fisheries 
made  by  the  Bureau  of  the  Census  in  cooperation  with 
the  Bureau  of  Fisheries.  A  summary  of  the  statistics 
of  the  fisheries  of  Alaska  is  given  in  the  appendix  on 
page  297,  and  in  some  of  the  tables  in  the  chapter  on 
canning  and  preserving  figures  for  Alaska  are  included. 
The  report  is  designed  to  cover  shore  fisheries,  i.  e., 
those  carried  on  from  shore  or  from  boats  of  less 
than  5  tons;  vessel  fisheries,  i.  e.,  those  conducted 
by  vessels  of  5  tons  and  over;  the  operations  of  ves- 
sels engaged  in  transporting  fish  from  the  fishing 
grounds,  but  not  including  vessels  engaged  in  trans- 
porting fish  from  port  to  port  as  regular  freight ;  and 
the  business  of  packing  and  canning  houses.  The 
report  does  not  cover  the  operations  of  individuals, 
clubs,  etc.,  catching  fish  for  their  own  consumption  or 
for  sport,  or  the  business  of  those  who  deal  in  fish  prod- 
ucts simply  as  merchandise.  The  statistics  are  for  the 
business  year  most  nearly  conforming  to  tiie  year  end- 
ing December  31,  1908;  such  data  as  relate  to  a  fixed 
time,  as  cash  on  hand  and  value  of  property,  relate  to 
the  beginning  of  the  business  year  reported.  The 
statistics  as  to  the  products  include,  besides  the  quan- 
tity and  value  of  fish  products  proper,  the  number  or 
quantity  and  value  of  aquatic  mammals,  reptiles,  shell- 
fish, sponges,  etc.,  taken  during  the  year. 

The  canvass  was  begun  in  January  and  finished  in 
August  of  1909.  In  order  that  it  might  be  made  thor- 
oughly and  rapidly,  the  entire  country  was  divided  into 
districts,  to  each  of  which  one  or  more  special  agents 
were  assigned,  about  40  agents  in  all  being  employed. 
The  Census  Bureau  was  greatly  assisted  by  the  cooper- 
ation of  the  various  state  fish  commissions  and  game 
wardens,  with  whom  close  relations  were  maintained. 
The  agents  were  furnished  with  lists  containing  the 
names  of  fishing  vessels  and  the  names  and  addresses 
of  the  owners.  They  were  instructed,  however,  not  to 
confine  their  investigation  to  the  names  on  these  lists, 
which  were  prepared  in  some  cases  from  records  several 
years  old,  but  to  be  constantly  on  the  alert  to  discover 
vessels  and  establishments  engaged  in  the  fishing  indus- 
try which  were  not  listed.  In  addition  to  securing  the 
information  called  for  in  the  schedules  each  agent  was 


required  to  obtain  such  other  information  as  might 
prove  valuable  in  determining  the  general  condition 
and  tendencies  of  the  industry  in  the  section  of  the 
country  which  he  was  canvassing. 

A  census  of  fisheries  is  attended  perhaps  with  more 
difficulties  than  one  of  any  other  industry  canvassed 
by  the  Bureau  of  the  Census.  Calling,  as  it  does,  for 
the  number  of  persons  employed  and  the  investment 
in  vessels,  outfits,  boats,  and  apparatus  of  capture  both 
ashore  and  afloat,  as  well  as  the  quantity  and  value  of 
all  commercial  products  of  the  seas,  lakes,  and  rivers,  it 
requires,  in  order  that  it  be  exhaustive,  that  a  return  be 
secured  not  only  from  all  proprietors  and  firms  engaged 
in  the  fishing  business,  but  also  from  all  independent 
fishermen  who  fish  for  profit.  With  respect  to  the 
vessel  fisheries  the  problem  was  comparatively  simple 
and  the  returns  may  be  considered  substantially  accu- 
rate. All  fishing  craft  of  5  tons  or  over  are  required  to 
be  documented,  and  as  the  names  and  home  ports  of 
these  vessels  are  matters  of  record,  and  as  such  vessels 
are  well  known  to  the  principal  fishermen  and  fish 
dealers  living  in  the  district  in  which  they  operate, 
they  and  their  owners  could,  as  a  rule,  readily  be 
located  and  canvassed.  Moreover,  the  vessel  fisher- 
men usually  make  a  regular  business  of  fishing  and 
keep  books  of  record  showing  the  species,  amount,  and 
value  of  the  catch  as  well  as  other  data  called  for  in  the 
schedules.  The  canvass  is  hkewise  essentially  com- 
plete for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  so  far  as  the  oper- 
ations of  companies,  firms,  and  individuals  employing 
wage-earners  are  concerned,  for  these  are,  as  a  rule, 
located  at  the  fishing  centers  and  are  known  in  the  fish 
markets  of  their  respective  districts.  The  problem  of 
securing  reports  from  the  independent  fishermen, 
those  who  fish  alone  and  do  not  employ  others,  was, 
however,  especially  difficult .  These  fishermen  are  scat- 
tered all  along  the  coast,  inlets,  and  waterways,  many 
of  them  away  from  general  routes  of  travel,  and  are 
consequently  difficult  of  access.  Their  occupation 
takes  them  away  from  home  much  of  the  time,  either 
in  fishing  or  in  transporting  their  catch  to  market; 
hence,  with  the  corps  of  agents  available  for  the  work, 
it  became  a  physical  impossibiUty  to  make  a  personal 
canvass  of  each  and  every  fisherman  within  a  reason- 
able period  of  time,  as  in  order  to  do  this  an  agent 
would  have  had  to  make  repeated  trips  to  the  same 

(7) 


8 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


locality  to  reach  fishermen  who  were  away  at  the  time 
of  former  visits.  In  such  cases  the  agent  usually  was 
able  to  secure  satisfactory  information  from  persons 
who  were  famihar  with  the  operations  of  the  fisher- 
men. In  addition  to  the  difficulty  just  indicated  in 
any  canvass  of  the  fisheries,  a  source  of  error  arises  in 
connection  with  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  from  the 
fact  that  many  of  the  shore  and  boat  fishermen  do  not 
keep  records  of  the  catch,  but  give  the  information  to 
the  best  of  their  recollection. 

The  extent  to  which  the  independent  fishermen — 
that  is,  those  fisliing  solely  on  their  own  account — 
figure  in  the  returns  can  be  seen  by  referring  to  the 
statistics  for  Alabama.  Although  from  these  statistics 
the  total  number  of  independent  fishermen  in  Alabama 
can  not  be  ascertained,  it  appears  from  the  figures 
that  all  the  77  fishermen  on  interior  waters  and 
more  than  600  of  the  647  engaged  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  were  independent  fishermen, 
showing  that  in  the  aggregate  over  70  per  cent  of  the 
total  number  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  be- 
longed to  this  class.  Tliis  fact  throws  some  hght  upon 
the  conditions  which  were  met,  and  indicates  to  some 
extent  the  difficulties  attending  an  accurate  canvass. 

With  almost  invariable  courtesy  the  fish  dealers  and 
principal  fishermen  in  the  different  cities  and  towns 
visited  assisted  the  agents  engaged  in  the  canvass 
by  giving  them  the  names  and  locations  of  the  inde- 
pendent fishermen  in  the  surrounding  territory.  The 
agents  were  likewise  aided  by  the  inspectors,  fish  and 
game  wardens,  and  other  state  officials  conversant 
with  the  fishing  industry  in  the  several  states,  who 
supplied  the  names  of  all  proprietors,  firms,  or  inde- 
pendent fishermen  within  their  spheres  of  observation. 
Through  these  various  channels  and  by  constant 
inqxiiry  of  each  fisherman  reporting  as  to  other  unhsted 
independent  fishermen  in  the  neighborhood,  it  was 
possible  for  the  agent  to  extend  the  canvass  until  it  is 
believed  that  reports  were  secured  from  practically  all 
commercial  fishermen.  In  particular,  a  number  of 
schedules  were  secured  from  fishermen  who,  although 
they  had  followed  this  occupation  for  a  number  of 
years,  claimed  they  had  never  before  been  canvassed. 
The  canvass  did  not  cover  Colorado,  Idaho,  Montana, 
Nevada,  North  Dakota,  New  Mexico,  Utah,  or  Ver- 
mont, as  the  commercial  fisheries,  if  any,  which  existed 
in  these  states  were  of  minor  importance. 

Under  these  conditions  it  is  probable  that  some 
apparent  inconsistencies  will  appear  from  the  com- 
parison of  the  statistics  with  those  compiled  by  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries.  Such  inconsistencies  as  have 
been  detected  in  the  analysis  of  the  data  are  of  minor 
importance  and  are  no  indication  that  the  statistics 
compiled  by  either  office  are  wrong.  The  totals  com- 
piled by  both  offices  can  be  safely  accepted  as  repre- 
senting the  magnitude  of  the  fishing  industry  of  the 
United  States,  or  the  particular  section  of  the  country 
•  to  which  they  pertain. 


Three  schedules  were  used  in  securing  the  data — 
one  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  one  for  the  vessel 
fisheries,  and  one  for  the  canning  and  packing  houses. 
The  tables  relating  to  the  fisheries  were  prepared  from 
the  information  secured  on  the  first  two  schedules 
mentioned  above. 

In  the  statistical  presentation  the  entire  country  is 
divided  into  five  main  divisions,  as  follows:  Atlantic 
coast,  Gulf  of  Mexico,  Pacific  coast.  Great  Lakes,  and 
the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries.  In  connection 
with  this  division,  which  corresponds,  generally  speak- 
ing, to  the  principal  bodies  of  water  wliich  bound  the 
greater  part  of  the  United  States  and  the  large  river 
system  wliich  occupies  the  great  central  valley,  it  will 
be  noted  that  a  few  states  have  fisheries  in  more  than 
one  division,  as,  for  example.  New  York  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, which  have  fisheries  in  both  the  Atlantic  coast 
and  the  Great  Lakes  divisions ;  Florida,  wliich  has  fish- 
eries on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  also  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico;  and  Louisiana,  wliich  is  represented  in  the 
GuK  fisheries  as  well  as  in  those  of  the  Mississippi.  For 
purposes  of  comparison  with  previous  statistics,  the 
fisheries  of  the  Atlantic  coast  are  shown  in  a  few  tables 
in  three  divisions — those  of  the  New  England  states,  the 
Middle  Atlantic  states,  and  the  South  Atlantic  states, 
respectively.  The  last-named  group  includes  North 
CaroUna,  South  Carofina,  Georgia,  and  the  east  coast  of 
Florida,  and  the  Middle  Atlantic  division,  all  the 
Atlantic  coast  states  from  New  York  to  Virginia,  inclu- 
sive. In  most  of  the  states  a  distribution  has  been 
made  according  to  the  waters  in  which  fisliing  was 
prosecuted;  thus  in  Wisconsin  separate  statistics  are 
presented  for  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Superior,  Lake 
Michigan,  and  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries. 
In  Wasliington  and  in  Oregon  the  fisheries  of  the  Co- 
lumbia River  and  its  tributaries  have  been  classed  as  a 
separate  district,  all  the  other  waters  in  each  of  these 
states  constituting  a  single  district.  In  New  York 
there  are  four  divisions  or  fishing  districts — Long 
Island  Sound,  all  other  waters  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 
Lake  Erie,  and  Lake  Ontario.  On  account  of  their 
importance,  separate  statistics  are  also  given  for  the 
fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributaries,  which 
include  portions  of  the  fisheries  of  Delaware,  Maryland, 
and  Virginia,  and  the  Susquehanna  River  fisheries  of 
Pennsylvania  and  JIaryland. 

The  catch  has  been  credited  to  the  port  from  wliich 
the  fisherman  sails,  and  therefore  is  not  always  credited 
to  the  state  from  whose  waters  it  was  taken.  For 
example,  California  fishermen  bring  some  of  their  catch 
from  Alaskan  waters,  and  Connecticut  oystermen  take 
a  great  many  oj^sters  from  Rhode  Island  beds  and  from 
the  New  York  waters  of  Long  Island  Sound. 

Some  40  different  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
including  various  forms  of  nets,  pots,  traps,  fines, 
dredges,  harpoons,  and  sponge  apparatus,  were  used, 
and  the  tables  show  the  principal  forms  employed  in 
each  division  and  class  of  fisheries. 


INTRODUCTION. 


9 


In  order  to  show  the  total  meat  or  marketable 
product  of  all  fish,  crustaceans,  mollusks,  and  aquatic 
animals,  it  has  been  found  desirable  to  reduce  all  to 
the  common  unit  of  a  pound,  although,  in  the  trade, 
certain  jiroducts  are  usually  handled  on  the  basis  of 
bushels,  barrels,  or  gallons.  Where  these  species  are 
treated  separately  the  common  trade  unit  of  measure- 
ment for  the  species  or  product  is  used.  In  the  gen- 
eral tables  the  quantities  shown  for  the  shell-bearing 
mollusks  are  based  on  the  amount  of  meat  contained, 
the  figures  used  for  estimating  the  meat  contents  being 
as  follows:  Hard  clams  and  surf  clams  or  skimmers, 
8  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  soft  and  razor  clams, 
cockles,  winkles,  and  mussels,  10  pounds  of  meat  per 
bushel;  oysters,  7  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel;  and 
scallops,  6  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel. 

The  statistics  of  establishments  engaged  in  canning 
and  preserving  fish  and  in  the  manufacture  of  various 
by-products  have  been  classified  by  districts  and 
states,  by  principal  species  used,  and  by  method  of 
treatment,  whether  boned,  canned,  salted,  smoked, 
dried,  or  frozen.  On  account  of  the  great  value  of  the 
output  of  the  canneries  and  salteries  of  Alaska,  the 
statistics  of  that  territory  as  reported  by  the  Bureau 
of  Fisheries  have  been  included  in  some  of  the  tables 
in  the  chapter  on  canning  and  preserving. 

Common  names. — The  confusion  in  connection  with 
the  common  names  of  fishes  has  naturally  caused  more 
or  less  diificulty  in  tabulating  statistics  of  fisheries  for 
the  entire  country.  In  some  instances  a  single  species 
of  fish  is  known  by  a  number  of  different  names  in  the 
same  section  as  well  as  in  different  sections  of  the  coun- 
try, and  it  also  frequently  happens  that  a  single  name 
will  represent  different  species  of  fish  in  different  local- 
ities. It  is  the  exception,  perhaps,  rather  than  the 
rule,  in  the  case  of  fishes  usually  taken  in  the  commer- 
cial fisheries,  to  find  a  species  that  is  not  known  by 
more  than  one  common  name.  Such  names  as  "her- 
ring," "trout,"  and  "perch,"  are  frequently  applied 
by  fishennen  and  others  in  various  localities  to  species 
to  which  they  do  not  properly  belong,  or  which  require 
that  the  name  be  supplemented  with  some  qualifying 
word  in  order  to  be  clearly  understood.  Even  the 
familiar  and  generally  well-understood  name  "shad" 
is,  in  North  Carolina,  sometimes  applied  to  the  men- 
haden. In  this  report  an  eifort  has  been  made  to  list 
each  species  under  a  correct  and  well-established  com- 
mon name  in  the  general  tables,  and  at  the  same  time 
in  the  tables  for  each  state  to  use,  so  far  as  consistent, 
names  which  are  applied  locally. 

Under  "Albacore,  or  horse  mackerel,"  are  included 
the  horse  mackerel  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  tuna  of 
California  {Thunnus  ihynnus),  and  related  species 
usually  known  as  albacore.  In  the  tables  for  Califor- 
nia "albacore  and  tuna"  includes  Thunnus  thynnus 
and  related  species,  while  the  name  "horse  mackerel" 
is  applied  to  Trachunis  picturatus,  as  is  the  custom 
locally.   The  name  "alewife"  6r  "alewives"  has  been 


used  exclusively  to  designate  Pomolobus  fseudoharen- 
gusi  and  P.  sestivalis,  although  these  species  are  very 
generally  known  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  Albemarle  Sound, 
and  elsewhere  in  the  Middle  and  South  Atlantic  states 
as  herring,  and  in  the  New  England  states  as  alewives 
and  bluebacks,  respectively.  The  name  "herring" 
has  been  used  to  designate  Clupea  harengus  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  C.  pallasii  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
while  the  various  species  of  lake  herring,  Leucich- 
thys  artedi,  L.  Jioyi,  and  other  species  of  Leucichthys, 
which  are  locally  known  as  herring  in  the  Great  Lakes 
region,  have  been  designated  as  "lake  herring,"  and 
L.  Jioyi  sometimes  as  "chub,"  or  "kieye."  Under 
"bream  and  sunfish"  are  included  various  species 
of  Lepomis  and  Eupomotis.  The  name  "perch"  is 
used  in  the  tables  for  Washington,  Oregon,  and 
California  for  the  viviparous  perches,  Cymatogaster 
aggregatus,  Embiotoca  jacksoni,  DamxiLichthys  argy- 
rosomus,  and  other  Embiotocidse  or  surf-fishes.  The 
name  "surf-fish"  is  also  applied  to  certain  species  of 
this  family,  and  all  the  species  tabulated  under  the 
head  "viviparous  perch"  are  in  fact  surf -fishes. 
"Drum,  fresh- water"  or  "drum  or  sheepshead"  is 
used  for  Aplodinotus  grunniens,  and  "drum,  salt- 
water" for  Pogonias  cromis  and  Scisenops  ocellatus. 
"Channel  bass"  is  also  used  as  a  designation  for  this 
latter  species.  "Sheepshead"  is  the  term  used  to 
designate  Archosargus  prohatocepTialus.  The  name 
"halibut"  is  used  exclusively  for  Hippoglossus  hippo- 
glossus,  while  the  bastard  halibut  {ParalicMhys  cali- 
fornicus)  of  California  is  not  shown  separately,  but  is 
included  with  flounders.  "Hickory  shad"  is  applied 
to  Pomolobus  mediocris  in  waters  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
and  to  P.  chrysocTiloris  in  rivers  of  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley. "Shad"  is  not  applied  in  this  report  to  any  spe- 
cies except  Alosa  sapidissima,  and  A.  ohiensis,  and 
Brevoortia  tyrrannus  is  given  only  as  "menhaden." 
"  Jewfish"  is  applied  to  Garrupa  nigrita  on  the  Atlan- 
tic coast,  and  to  Stereolepis  gigas  on  the  Pacific  coast. 
The  names  "kingfish"  and  "whiting"  are  used  for 
various  species  of  Mentidrrhus  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
while  in  Florida  "kingfish"  applies  to  Scomberom,orus 
cavalla,  but  in  the  summary  tables  for  the  United 
States  the  two  names  are  combined  as  a  single  designa- 
tion for  the  various  species  of  Mentidrrhus,  the  king- 
fish on  the  Pacific  coast  being  an  entirely  diff'erent  spe- 
cies. Merlucdus  bilinearis  in  the  New  England  and 
Middle  Atlantic  states  is  frequently  known  by  the  name 
"whiting,"  but  in  this  report  that  species  has  been  des- 
ignated as  "silver  hake."  The  name  "pigfish,"  and  in 
Virginia  the  name  "hogfish,"  designate  Orthopristis 
chrysopterus,  and  in  the  summary  tables  for  the  entire 
country  the  two  names  combined  represent  this 
species,  while  in  the  tables  for  Florida  "hogfisli"  is 
Lachnolaimus  maximus,  which  is  included  among  the 
miscellaneous  species  in  the  summary  statistics. 
In  the  statistics  for  Maine  and  Massachusetts  the 
name    "catfish"   designates  Anarhichas  lupus,  while 


10 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


in  the  statistics  for  other  states  "catfish"  represents 
the  various  species  of  Siluridx  commonly  knowa  by 
that  name.  The  name  "pompano"  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  designates  Trachinotus  carolinus,  the  common 
pompano,  but  in  the  statistics  for  California  tliis  name 
represents  Palometa  simillima,  which  is  one  of  the  but- 
terfishes,  and  is  included  with  the  butterfishes  in  the 
summary  statistics. 

Comparison  with  statistics  of  previous  canvasses. — 
Statistics  of  fishing  industries  for  1880  and  1889  were 
included  in  the  reports  of  the  Tenth  and  Eleventh 
censuses.  Statistical  reports  on  fisheries  have  also 
been  issued  from  time  to  time  by  the  Bureau  of  Fish- 
eries in  which  only  certain  sections  of  the  country  are 
considered  in  any  one  year.  The  seven  districts  into 
which  the  United  States  has  been  divided  for  this  pur- 
pose and  the  years  for  wliich  statistics  have  been  pub- 
lished are  as  follows:  New  England  states,  1888,  1898, 
1902,  and  1905;  Middle  Atlantic  states,  1888, 1892, 1897, 
1901,  and  1904;  South  Atlantic  states,  1888,  1897,  and 
1902;  Gulf  states,  1888,  1890,  1897,  and  1902;  Pacific 
states,  1888, 1892,  1895,  1899,  and  1904;  Great  Lakes 
1885,  1890,  1899,  and  1903;  and  the  Mississippi  River 
and  its  tributaries,  1894, 1899,  and  190.3.  These  reports 
show  in  detail  the  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the 
fisheries ;  the  investment  in  fishing  vessels,  transporting 
vessels,  boats,  various  apparatus  of  capture,  and  shore 
and  accessory  property,  and  the  amount  of  cash  capi- 
tal; and  the  amount  and  value  of  products  by  species 
taken  and  by  apparatus  used.  In  the  following  table 
are  presented  the  comparable  statistics  for  the  United 
States  (exclusive  of  Alaska)  for  the  censuses  of  1908, 
1889,  and  1880,  and  a  consolidation  from  selected  reports 
of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  made  for  the  several  districts 
mentioned  above  from  1900  to  1904.  For  the  purpose 
of  comparison  the  statistics  as  to  the  number  of  persons 
employed  are  confined  to  fishermen,  exclusive  of  shores- 
men, while  those  relating  to  the  capital  employed  are 
confined  to  that  invested  in  vessels  and  their  outfits, 
boats,  and  apparatus  of  capture,  and  do  not  include 
capital  invested  in  shore  and  accessory  property  or 
cash  capital. 

It  will  be  observed  that  the  items  for  each  canvass 
show  an  increase  over  the  corresponding  figures  for  the 
last  preceding  canvass,  except  that  the  number  of  fish- 
ermen for  the  period  1900-1904  exceeds  the  number 
for  1908;  the  number  of  vessels  shown  for  1889  exceeds 
that  for  either  of  the  subsequent  canvasses;  and  the 
tonnage  of  vessels  shows  a  decrease  at  each  canvass,  as 
compared  with  the  preceding  one. 

In  1880  the  investment  in  vessels  formed  47  per  cent 
of  the  total  reported,  and  the  investment  in  boats  12 
per  cent,  while  in  1908  the  investment  in  vessels  shows 


a  decrease  in  relative  importance  to  41  per  cent  of  the 
total,  and  that  in  boats  an  increase  to  21  per  cent. 
The  proportion  represented  by  investment  in  appa- 
ratus of  capture  and  outfit  shows  but  little  variation  — 
41  per  centin  1880  and  38  per  cent  in  1908.  The  ratio  of 
the  capital  invested  to  the  value  of  products  has  pro- 
gressively increased,  the  capital  invested  in  vessels, 
boats,  and  apparatus  of  capture  being  equivalent  to 
63  per  cent  of  the  value  of  products  in  1908,  com- 
pared with  53  per  cent  in  1880. 


1908 

1900-190*' 

1889 

1880 

Number  of  fishermen,  exclusive 

141,031 

$34,099,000 

6,933 

126,4.'i3 

$13,806,000 

83,648 
$7, 269, 000 

$13,025,000 

151,561 

$28,  .590, 000 

6,740 

130,  432 

$11,297,000 

80, 516 
$3,179,000 

112,115,000 
$49,398,000 

134,923 

$23,328,000 

7,208 

1,57,209 

$1  ,343,000 

79,539 
$4,734,000 

$8,251,000 
$42,904,000 

■      95,684 

Capita!,  not.  including  shore  and 
accessory  properly  and  cash. . . 
Vessels; 

Number       

$19,901,000 
6,605 

208, 298 

Value 

$9,357,000 

Boats: 

Number 

41,,S04 

$2,405,000 

Apparatus  of  capture  and 
outfit 

$8, 138, 000 

$54,031,000 

$37,789,000 

1  Combined  statistics  for  the  New  England  states,  South  Atlantic  state-i.  and  GnU 
states  for  1902;  Great  Lakes  and  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries  for  1903;  Middle 
Atlantic  states  and  Pacific  coast  states  for  1904;  and  minor  interior  waters  for  1900- 
1903. 

The  following  table  shows  the  value  of  products  of 
the  specified  fisheries  for  certain  years: 


VALtiE   OF  PRODUCTS. 

1908 

1900-19041 

1889 

1880 

AMOUNT. 

Total 

$54,031,000 

$49,398,000 

$42,780,000 

$39,885,000 

36,382,000 

15,713.000 

893,000 

545,000 

497,000 

30,101,000 

10,081,000 

1,426,000 

364,000 

824,000 

25,689,000 
13,294,000 

1,818.000 
282,000 

1,098,000 

21,840,000 

13,404,000 

2,117.000 

Sponge  fisheries  . .             .... 

201.000 

2,323,000 

% 

PEE  CENT  DISTRIBUTION. 

Total 

100                   100 

100 

100 

General  fisheries 

67 
29 
2 

1 
1 

61 

34 

3 

1 

2 

60 

31 

4 

1 

4 

57 

31 

5 

1 

5 

I  Combined  statistics  for  the  New  England  states.  South  Atlantic  states,  and 
Gulf  states  for  1902;  Great  Lakes  and  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries  for  1903; 
Middle  Atlantic  states  and  Pacific  coast  states  for  1904;  and  minor  interior  waters 
for  1900-1903. 

The  decline  in  the  value  of  products  of  the  whale 
and  menhaden  fisheries  is  marked,  wliile  large  gains 
are  shown  for  the  value  of  products  of  the  general 
fisheries  and  the  sponge  fisheries.  The  oyster  fish- 
eries show  a  general  increase  in  value  of  products, 
although  a  larger  value  was  reported  for  the  period 
from  1900-1904  than  for  either  1908  or  1889. 


CHAPTEE  II. 
SUMMARY  OF  STATISTICS. 
The  general'  statistics  for  the  United  States  and  for  the  five  divisions  are  summarized  in  the  following  table: 


Number  of  persons  employed 

Capital 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit... 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and 

cash 

Value  of  products 


Total. 


143,881 

$42,021,000 

25,101,000 

8,999,000 

7,921,000 
54,031,000 


Atlantic 

coast 
division. 


94,281 

$25,398,000 
16,553,000 
3,822,000 

5,02.3,000 
35,474,000 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
division. 


15,481 

$3,901,000 

2,805,000 

374,000 

722,000 
4,825,000 


Pacific 

coast 

division. 


1.1,855 

$0,468,000 

3,544,000 

2,459,000 

465,000 
6,839,000 


Mississippi 

River 
division. 


11,731 

$1,440,000 

547,000 

614,000 

379,000 
3,125,000 


Great 

Lakes 

division. 


8,533 

$4,814,000 
1,651,000 
1,831,000 

1,332,000 
3,767,000 


PER  CENT  or  TOTAL. 


Atlantic 

coast 
division. 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
division. 


Pacific 

coast 

division. 


Mississip- 
pi River 
division. 


Great 

Lakes 

division. 


8 
U 

7 
20 

17 
7 


The  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic  coast  division  contrib- 
uted nearly  two-thirds  of  the  total  number  of  persons 
employed,  the  value  of  products,  the  capital  invested 
in  vessels  and  boats,  and  that  invested  in  shore  and 
accessory  property,  together  with  cash  capital,  though 
they  represented  a  somewhat  smaller  proportion  of 
the  capital  invested  in  apparatus  of  capture. 

On  account  of  the  relatively  large  investment  in 
apparatus  of  capture  in  the  Pacific  coast  and  the 
Great  Lakes  divisions,  in  the  former  chiefly  in  the 
form  of  the  wheels  and  slides  used  in  the  salmon 
fisheries  and  in  the  latter  chiefly  in  the  form  of  pound 
nets  and  traps,  these  two  divisions  rank  second  and 


third,  respectively,  in  the  amount  of  capital  employed. 
The  investment  in  vessels  reported  for  the  Pacific 
coast  division  is  also  relatively  large,  as  is  the  invest- 
ment in  accessory  property,  together  with  cash 
capital,  reported  for  the  Great  Lakes  division.  In 
the  value  of  products  reported  the  Pacific  coast  fish- 
eries rank  next  to  those  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Because  of  the  prominence  of  the  fisheries  of  the 
New  England  states,  chiefly  on  account  of  the  deep-sea 
fisheries,  and  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states,  on  ac- 
count of  the  oyster  fisheries,  a  summary  of  the  statis- 
tics of  the  Atlantic  coast  division  by  state  groups  ia 
here  given. 


Number  of  persons  employed 

Capital 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 
Value  of  products 


Atlantic 

coast 
division. 


94,281 

$25,398,000 

16,653,000 

3,822,000 

5,023,000 

35,474,000 


New 

England 

states. 


22,167 
$11,970,000 
8,201,000 
1,675,000 
2,094,000 
15,139,000 


Middle 

Atlantic 

states. 


64,163 
$11,105,000 
7,280,000 
1,578,000 
2,248,000 
16,302,000 


South 

Atlantic 

states. 


17,»61 

$2,324,000 

1,073,000 

509,000 

682,000 

4,034,000 


PER  CENT  OP  TOTAL. 


New 

England 

states. 


Middle 

Atlantic 

states. 


South 

Atlantic 

states. 


19 
9 
0 
15 
14 
11 


Chesapeake  Bay  is  the  most  important  fishing 
ground  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  fishermen  of 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  fislieries,  including  those  of  its 
tributary  waters,  formed  more  than  one-third  of  the 
total  number  employed  in  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries 
in  1908,  and  the  value  of  the  products  of  the  Chesa- 


peake Bay  fisheries  constituted  more  than  one-fifth  of 
the  value  of  all  products  of  the  Atlantic  coast  fish- 
eries. As  the  fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its 
tributaries  cover  portions  of  four  states,  a  summary 
of  the  statistics,  by  states,  is  given  in  the  folloAving 
table: 

(11) 


12 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Number  of  persons  employed 

Capital 

Vessels  and  boate,  including  outfit 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 
Value  of  products 


35,685 

$4,715,000 

3,486,000 

778,000 

452,000 

7,261,000 


Maryland 

and 
Delaware. 


17,820 

J2, 019, 000 

1.601,000 

335,000 

84,000 

3,189,000 


Virginia. 


17,416 

$2,681,000 

1,879.000 

433,000 

369,000 

4,046,000 


Pennsylva- 
nia ( Susque- 
hanna River 
fisheries). 


449 

$14,000 

4,300 

9,800 

300 

26,000 


PEB  CENT  or  TOTAL. 


Maryland. 


Virginia. 


Pennsyl- 
vania. 


(') 
(■) 

0) 
(') 


I  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


With  the  exception  of  the  number  of  persons  em- 
ployed, Virginia  leads  Maryland  in  every  respect. 
The  number  of  persons  employed  in  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  fisheries  is  larger  than  the  number 
reported  for  any  of  the  other  divisions  of  the  Atlantic 
coast  waters.  Of  the  total  capital  employed,  74  per 
cent  represents  the  value  of  vessels  and  boats,  includ- 
ing outfits,  17  per  cent  the  value  of  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, and  10  per  cent  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory 
property  and  cash,  the  investment  in  vessels,  boats, 
and  outfits  being  the  largest  proportionately  re- 
ported for  any  district  or  subdivision.     The  products 


of  the  Delaware  fisheries  which  were  conducted  on  tribu- 
taries of  Chesapeake  Bay  consisted  principally  of  shad. 
Fourteen  fishermen,  using  boats  and  apparatus  of 
capture  valued  at  $400,  took  products  valued  at  $2,100. 
The  following  table  is  a  summary  of  the  general 
statistics  for  the  fisheries  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  their 
tributary  waters,  classified  according  to  the  six  prin- 
cipal bodies  of  water  comprising  the  division,  namely: 
Lake  Superior,  Lake  Michigan,  Lake  Huron,  Lake  St. 
Clair  and  the  St.  Clair  and  Detroit  Rivers,  Lake  Erie, 
and  Lake  Ontario,  with  which  are  included  the  Niagara 
and  St.  Lawrence  Rivers: 


Nimiber  of  persons  employed . 

Capital 

Vessels  and  boats,  includ- 
ing outfit , 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  prop- 
erty and  cash 

Value  of  products 


Total. 


8,533 
$4,814,000 

1,651,000 
1,831,000 

1,332,000 
3,767,000 


Lake 
Superior. 


786 
$391,000 

149,000 
159,000 

83,000 
342,000 


Lake 
Michigan. 


2,706 
$1,965,000 

692,000 
753,000 

519,000 
1,554,000 


Lake 
Huron. 


1,382 
$733,000 

185,000 
281,000 

267,000 
486,000 


Lake  St. 
Clair  and 
St.  Clair 

and 
Detroit 
Bivers. 


221 
$46,000 

10.000 
8,000 

28,000 
32,000 


Lake 
Erie. 


3,142 
$1,644,000 

603,000 
615,000 

426,000 
1,280,000 


Lake 
Ontario, 

Including 
Niagara 
and  St. 

Lawrence 
Rivers. 


296 
$35,000 

11,000 
16,000 

7,900 
74,000 


CENT   or   TOTAL. 


Lake 
Supe- 
rior. 


Lake 
Michi- 
gan. 


Lake 
Huron. 


Lake 
St.  Clair 
and  St. 

Clair 

and 
Detroit 
Rivers. 


(■) 


Lake 
Erie. 


Lake 
Ontario, 
including 
Niagara 
and  St. 
Lawrence 
Rivers. 


'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Ranked  according  to  the  value  of  fishery  products, 
Lake  Michigan  was  first,  with  Lake  Erie,  I^ake  Huron, 
Lake  Superior,  Lake  Ontario,  and  Lake  St.  Clair  and 
its  adjacent  rivers  following  in  the  order  named,  the 
first  two  named  reporting  three-fourths  of  the  total. 
The  order  was  the  same  in  respect  to  the  amount  of 
capital  employed  in  the  fisheries,  except  that  Lake  St. 


Clair  and  its  adjacent  rivers  outranked  Lake  Ontario; 
and,  as  in  the  case  of  value  of  products,  three-fourths  of 
the  total  capital  of  the  division  was  reported  for  Lakes 
Michigan  and  Erie.  A  larger  number  of  persons  em- 
ployed was  reported  from  Lake  Erie  than  from  I^ake 
Michigan ;  otherwise,  the  lakes  follow  the  same  order  in 
respect  to  this  item  as  in  the  case  of  value  of  products. 


SUMMARY  OF  STATISTICS. 

SUMMARY— FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  BY  STATES  :   1908.' 


13 


Total. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut. 
Delaware — 


Florida. . 
Georgia. . 
Illinois.. 
Indiana. 
Iowa 


Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. 


Michigan... 
Minnesota.. 
Mississippi. . 

Missouri 

New  Jersey. 


New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania. . 


Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. 

Tennessee 

Texas 


Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states'. 


Number  of 

persons 
employed. 


143,881 


972 

998 

4,129 

2,147 

1,756 

9,212 

2,525 

4,439 

986 

786 

555 
5,795 
6,881 
18,392 
11,677 

3,472 
934 

2,037 
906 

7,231 

6,775 
9,681 
2,054 
4,772 
1,250 

1,493 

2,559 

427 

1,780 

20,066 

4,954 

2,011 

349 


Number. 


6,933 


tl7, 831,000 


61 

6 

60 

243 

65 

327 

88 

17 

2 


222 

575 

1,107 

671 

110 

4 

206 


435 

943 

299 
54 
44 
66 

138 
108 


946 
190 


Value,  in- 
cluding 
outfit. 


130,000 
8,100 
573,000 
994,000 
334,000 

846,000 

90,000 

47,000 

7,700 


441,000 
1,007,000 
1,001,000 
4,282,000 

327,000 

16,000 

372,000 


709,000 

1,760,000 
282,000 
216,000 
140,000 
264,000 

615,000 
50,000 


269,000 

1,332,000 

1,594,000 

244,000 


Number. 


83,549 


670 
1,154 
2,121 
1,069 

792 

5,702 

2,791 

4,222 

937 

832 

511 

4,469 
6,969 
8,493 
3,694 

1,647 
689 

1,144 
785 

3,843 

3,131 
4,984 
1,083 
2,312 
333 

815 

1,719 

399 

991 

10,942 
2,798 
1,200 


Value. 


$7,269,000 


34,000 
37,000 
493,000 
118,000 
38,000 

575,000 
79,000 

234,000 
16,000 
38,000 

11,000 
364,000 
662,000 
644,000 
477,000 

267,000 
36,000 
46,000 
26,000 

391,000 

308,000 
251,000 
141,000 
367,000 
26,000 

133,000 

42,000 

9,400 

117,000 

733,000 

377,000 

173,000 

18,000 


Value  of 
apparatus 
of  capture. 


S8, 999, 000 


23,000 
31,000 
502,000 
84,000 
63,000 

326,000 
.55,000 

272,000 
28,000 
29,000 

21,000 
95,000 
576,000 
369,000 
776,000 

821,000 
43,000 
58,000 
39,000 

346,000 

362,000 
367,000 
423,000 
795,000 
114,000 

230,000 
16,000 
27,000 
41,000 

485,000 

1, 162. 000 

407,000 

17,000 


Value  of 
accessory 
property 
and  cash. 


$7,921,000 


82,000 

13,000 

91,000 

1,086,000 

9,500 

668,000 

185,000 

295,000 

22,000 

11,000 

6,600 
40,000 

166,000 
86,000 

215,000 

.599,000 
33,000 
46,000 
27,000 

269,000 

1, 413, 000 

370,000 

343,000 

65,000 

87,000 

627,000 

5,400 

13,000 

26,000 

434,000 

309,000 

276,000 

3,900 


Value  of 
products. 


$54,031,000 


387,000 

207,000 

1,970,000 

2,982,000 

541,000 

3,389,000 
701,000 

1,436,000 
223,000 
216,000 

110,000 
1,669,000 
3,257,000 
3,306,000 
7,095,000 

1,473,000 
192,000 
556,000 
271,000 

3,069,000 

4,594,000 
1,776,000 

840,000 
1,366,000 

613,000 

1,752,000 
288,000 
112,000 
446,000 

4,716,000 

3,513,000 

1,067,000 

110,000 


1  Exclusive  of  Alaska. 


*  Includes  Kansas,  Nebraska,  New  Hampshire,  Oklahoma,  South  Dakota,  and  West  Virginia. 


CHAPTER  III. 


PERSONS  EMPLOYED,  SALARIES,  AND  WAGES. 


Persons  employed. — The  census  was  intended  to 
include  a  report  of  all  persons  actually  engaged  in 
commercial  fishing,  whether  on  vessels,  in  boats,  or  on 
the  shore. 

The  instructions  to  the  special  agents  in  regard  to 
the  enumeration  of  the  persons  employed  were  in  part 
as  follows: 

ProprietoTs,  firm  members,  and  independent  fishermen. — Stockhold- 
ere  of  corporations  should  not  be  reported  unless  they  are  also  em- 
ployees of  the  company.  A  person  fishing  on  shares,  delivering  a 
part  of  the  catch  to  another  person  and  selling  the  remainder,  should 
not  be  considered  as  an  independent  fisherman;  in  this  case  the 
person  to  whom  a  part  of  the  catch  was  delivered  should  be  con- 
sidered the  proprietor.  It  is  desired  to  show  in  the  report  the  total 
number  of  persons  engaged  in  fishing.  For  this  reason  it  is  necessary 
to  indicate  whether  the  proprietor  was  actually  engaged  in  fishing. 
In  the  great  majority  of  cases  the  proprietor  will  be  found  to  be  so 
engaged,  but  in  cases  where  he  is  not,  this  fact  should  be  indicated 
in  the  space  provided.  If  the  ownership  of  the  vessel  is  in  shares, 
a  number  of  which  are  held  by  parties  who  take  no  part  in  its  man- 
agement, these  parties  should  be  reported  as  "shareholders."  Per- 
sona reported  in  inquiries  2,  3,  and  4  should  not  be  duplicated  when 
more  than  one  schedule  is  secured  for  operations  carried  on  under 
the  same  ownership. 

Salaried  employees. — There  will  probably  be  comparatively  few 


cases  where  it  will  be  necessary  to  answer  this  inquiry.  It  applies 
only  to  large  companies  having  a  managing  office  in  which  records 
of  the  fishing  are  kept  by  salaried  employees.  Persons  reported  in 
this  inquiry  should  not  be  reported  on  another  schedule. 

Vessel  crew. — The  regular  crew,  including  the  fishermen  on  the 
vessel,  should  be  reported  as  "vessel  crew."  If  the  captain  or  any 
other  member  of  the  crew  has  been  reported  as  a  proprietor,  he 
should  not  be  reported  here.  Where  fishermen  are  working  on 
sTiares,  it  will  be  necessary  to  estimate  the  annual  wages.  Where 
board  is  provided  for  fishermen  as  part  compensation,  the  value  of 
provisions  thus  used  should  not  be  included  in  wages,  but  should 
be  reported  separately  as  provided  for  in  the  schedule. 

The  number  of  shoresmen  reported  represents  only 
persons  employed  on  shore'  in  direct  connection  with 
the  fisheries,  and  does  not  include  those  employed  in 
secondary  handling  of  fishery  products  in  canneries, 
packing  houses,  and  other  establishments.  For  these 
reasons  the  number  of  persons  reported  as  shoresmen 
is  not  comparable  in  all  cases  with  the  number  shown 
by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  in  its  various  annual  re- 
ports, which  includes  those  employed  in  fish-packing 
and  canning  establishments.  The  statistics  for  the 
canneries  and  packing  houses  are  given  in  Chapter 
VIII. 


PEBS0N3  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DrVraiON  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fisher- 
men. 

Salaried 
employ- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

United  States 

143,881 

'72,030 

350 

71,501 

116,377,000 

$319,000 

'116,058,000 

31,879 

4,508 

104,644 

2,850 

94,281 

4,248 

1,060 

66,732 

231 
23 

96 

27,400 
3,435 

37,816 
2,850 

8,230.000 
943,000 

6,449,000 
755,000 

220,000 
20,000 
79,000 

8,010,600 

Transporting  vessels ..     . 

923,000 

6,370,000 

756,000 

Atlantic  coast  division 

45,659 

219 

48,403 

9,904,000 

184,000 

9,720,000 

24,631 
3,595 

64,301 
1,754 

15,481 

3,469 

974 

41,216 

169 
6 
46 

20,993 
2,616 

23,040 
1,754 

9,533 

5,715.000 
618,000 

3,152,000 
418,000 

2,349,000 

156,000 

4,100 

23,000 

6,569,000 

Transporting  vp«rpIs  ,  .  ,    . 

614,000 

3,128,000 

Shoresmen 

418,000 

Gulf  of  Mexico  division .                ... 

6,896 

62 

57,000 

2,292,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

3,970 

396 

10,577 

538 

13,855 

352 

36 

6,608 

26 

18 
8 

3,592 
342 

5,061 
538 

6,912 

1,040,000 
134,000 

1,042,000 
134,000 

2,264,000 

35,000 
16,000 
6,700 

1,004,000 

117,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

1,036,000 

Shoresmen 

134,000 

Pacific  coast  division 

6,904 

39 

61,000 

2,213,000 

Vessel  fisheries .     . 

1,754 

368 

11,626 

107 

8,533 

96 

19 

6,789 

15 

1,643 
349 

4,813 
107 

4,106 

900,000 

140,000 

1,175,000 

49,000 

1,345,000 

14,000 

886,000 

140,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries ... 

24 

37,000 

1,138  000 

Shoresmen 

49,000 

Great  Lakes  division 

4,402 

26 

18,000 

1,327,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

1,494 

78 

6,600 

361 

11,731 

326 
10 

4,067 

16 

1,164 

68 

2,523 

361 

2,647 

566,000 

30,000 

623,000 

127,000 

515,000 

10,000 

656,000 

Transporting  vessels 

30,000 
615,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

10 

8,200 

Shoresmen 

127,000 

Mississippi  Elver  division 

9,169 

15 

9,000 

506,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

30 

71 

11,640 

90 

6 

11 

9,162 

6 

18 

60 

2,379 

90 

9,300 
21,000 
457.000 
27,000 

4,200 

6,100 

21,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

9 

4,800 

453.000 

Shoresmen 

27,000 

(14) 


1  Exclusive  of  2,962  proprietors  not  fishing. 


'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $1,803,000. 


PERSONS  EMPLOYED,  SALARIES,  AND  WAGES. 


15 


The  inquiry  called  for  the  number  of  proprietors,  firm 
members,  and  individual  fishermen  to  be  reported  sepa- 
rately, and  also  for  a  separate  report  of  the  salaried  em- 
ployees, such  as  oilicers,  managers,  and  clerks.  The 
wage-earners  were  returned  as  (a)  vessel  fishermen,  (6) 
shore  and  boat  fishermen,  and  (c)  shoresmen.  An  esti- 
mate was  also  obtained  of  the  cost  of  provisions  sup- 
plied to  employees,  which  is  shown  separately  and  also 
included  in  the  amount  shown  for  salaries  or  wages. 

The  preceding  table  summarizes  the  statistics  for 


persons  employed  and  salaries  and  wages  paid,  by 
geographic  divisions  and  by  the  main  branches  of  the 
industry : 

Of  the  total  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the  fish- 
ing industry  in  the  United  States  in  1908,  25  per  cent 
were  employed  on  fishing  and  transporting  vessels,  73 
per  cent  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  2  per  cent 
as  shoresmen,  directly  connected  with  the  catching 
offish.  In  addition  to  the  foregoing  there  were  2,952 
proprietors  not  engaged  in  fishing. 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Per  cent  distribution. 

Per  cent  of  total. 

Total. 

Proprietors 
and  inde- 
pendent 
flsliermen. 

Salaried 
employ- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Proprietors 
and  inde- 
pendent 
fishermen. 

Salaried 
employ- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

100 

100 

100 

100 

50 

(') 

50 

22 
3 

73 
2 

6 

1 
93 

66 
•7 
27 

38 
5 

53 
4 

13 
23 
64 

1 
1 

86 

Transporting  vessels  .                                                                     

76 

36 

Siioresmen 

100 

66 
11 
10 
6 
8 

63 
8 

10 
6 

13 

63 
15 
11 
7 
4 

68 
13 
10 
6 
4 

4S 
38 
50 
52 
78 

51 

Gulf  of  Mexico  division                                                                                            

62 

50 

Great  Lakes  division                                                                                          

48 

22 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


The  Atlantic  coast  division  was  by  far  the  most 
important  in  the  United  States,  giving  occupation  to 
66  per  cent  of  all  the  persons  engaged  in  fishing.  The 
next  in  importance  of  the  fisheries  districts  was  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  division,  where  1 1  per  cent  of  the  total 
number  were  employed.  The  Pacific  coast  division, 
the  Mississippi  River  division,  and  the  Great  Lakes 
division  follow  in  the  order  named.  The  next  table 
gives  the  distribution  of  persons  employed  in  the 
Atlantic  coast  division,  according  to  groups  of  states. 

More  than  one-fourth  of  the  total  number  of  persons 
engaged  in  fishing  in  the  Atlantic  coast  division  in  1908 
were  employed  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  on  trans- 
porting vessels,  and  more  than  two-thirds  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  while  less  than  2  per  cent  were 
shoresmen.  In  vessel  fisheries  and  on  transporting 
vessels  combined,' over  four-fifths  of  the  persons  em- 
ployed were  wage-earners,  as  compared  with  only  a 
little  more  than  one-third  of  those  employed  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Each  of  the  three  groups  of  states  comprising  the 
Atlantic  coast  division  employed  more  fishermen  than 
any  one  of  the  four  other  geographic  divisions  into 


which  the  country  is  divided.  More  than  one-half 
of  the  fishermen  of  the  Atlantic  coast  division  were 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states, 
nearly  one-fourth  in  those  of  the  New  England  states, 
and  about  one-fifth  in  those  of  the  South  Atlantic 
states. 

In  New  England  the  vessel  fisheries  predominated,  a 
fact  which  was  not  true  of  any  other  group  of  states 
for  which  statistics  are  presented.  It  follows  that  in 
this  group  of  states  the  total  number  of  wage-earners 
and  salaried  employees  was  large,  as  compared  with 
the  total  number  of  proprietors  and  independent  fisher- 
men. From  the  excess  of  the  number  of  proprietors 
and  independent  fishermen  over  the  number  of  wage- 
earners  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  it  is  evident 
that  there  were  more  than  6,000  independent  fisher- 
men. 

In  the  Middle  Atlantic  states  over  70  per  cent  of 
the  persons  employed  were  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  In  the  South  Atlantic  states  the  number 
of  persons  employed  in  the  vessel  fisheries  was  relatively 
small.  Only  1,973  persons,  or  11  per  cent  of  the  total 
number,  were  on  fishing  and  transporting  vessels. 


16 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


STATE  OBOUP  AND  CLASS. 


Atlantic  coast  division 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 
Shoresmen 

New  England  states 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

Middle  Atlantic  states 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

Soath  Atlantic  states 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 


PERSONS   EMPLOYED  IN  ATLANTIC  COAST  DrVISION:   1908. 


Total. 


94,281 


22,157 


10,652 
535 

10,SS3 
387 

54,163 


12,474 

2,592 

38,153 

944 

17,961 


1,505 

468 

15,565 

423 


Proprietors 
ana  inde- 
pendent 

fishermen. 


45,659 


3,469 

974 

41, 216 


1,219 

92 

8,429 


26,550 


2,118 

766 

23,666 


132 

116 

9,121 


Salaried 
employees. 


219 


169 
5 
45 


85 


102 


Wage- 
earners. 


48,403 


20,993 
2,616 

23,040 
1,754 

12,332 


9,361 

441 

2,143 

387 

27,511 


10,279 

1,823 

14,465 

944 

8,560 


1,353 
352 

6,432 
423 


Salaries  and  wages. 


Total. 


Salaries. 


»9, 904, 000  ' 


S184,000 


5,716,000 
618,000 

3,152,000 
418,000 

4,296,000 


3,420,000 

208,000 
513,000 
155,000 

4,459,000 


2,076,000 
356,000 

1,822,000 
205,000 

1,148,000 


219,000 
54,000 

816,000 
58,000 


150,000 
4,100 
23,000 


90,000 


80,000 
2,600. 
7,700 


75,000 


61,000 
1,600 
12,000 


19,000 


Wages. 


19,720,000 


6,559,000 
614,000 

3,128,000 
418,000 


4,206,000 


3,340,000 
206,000 
605,000 
155,000 

4,385,000 


2,015,000 
354,000 

1,810,000 
205,000 

1,129,000 


16,000  I 
3,500  1 


203,000 
54,000 

813,000 
68,000 


Btum  OBOUP  tXD  CLASS. 


Atlantic  coast  division 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
Shoresmen 

New  England  states 

Middle  .\  tlantlc  states 

South  Atlantic  states 


PERSONS  EMPLOYED  IN   ATLANTIC  COAST  DtVISION:  1908— Continued. 


Per  cent  distribution. 


Total. 


100 


Proprie- 
tors and 
Independ- 
ent fisher- 
men. 


Salaried 
employ- 


W  age- 
earners. 


Per  cent  of  total. 


Proprie- 
tors and 
independent 
fishermen. 


Salaried 
employ- 


(') 


(') 


Wagft- 
earners. 


85 
73 


100 


56 
51 
48 


'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  number 
of  persons  engaged  in  the  several  classes  of  employ- 
ment connected  with  the  fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay, 
the  chief  fishing  ground  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states, 
and  their  distribution  by  states: 


PERSONS  EMPLOYED  IN  CHESAPEAKE 

BAY  district:  1908. 

Total. 

Maryland 
and  Del- 
aware. 

Virginia. 

Pennsyl- 
vania 

(Susque- 
hanna 
River 

fisheries). 

Total 

35,686 

17,820 

17,416 

449 

Vessel  fisheries 

7,016 

1,953 

28,486 

230 

4,046 

975 

12,723 

76 

2,970 

978 

13,314 

154 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

449 

The  persons  engaged  in  these  fisheries  were  aBout 
equally  divided  between  Maryland  and  Virginia,  the 
few  which  are  credited  to  Pennsylvania  being  engaged 
on  the  Susquehanna  River.     The  shore  and  boat  fish- 


eries  greatly    predominated,    reporting   over   70    per 
cent  of  the  total  persons  employed. 

As  already  indicated,  fishing  on  the  Great  Lakes 
gave  occupation  to  fewer  people  than  fishing  in  any 
other  of  the  main  geographic  divisions  of  the  country. 
The  distribution  of  the  persons  employed  among  the 
various  lakes  and  rivers  of  the  Great  Lakes  division 
is  shown  below : 


Total 

Lake  Superior 

Lake  Michigan 

Lake  1 1  uron 

Lake  St.  Clair  and  St.  Clair  and  Detroit  Rivers 

Lake  Erie 

Lake  Ontario,  Including  Niagara  and  St.  Lawrence  Rivers 


Personsem- 

ployed  in 
Great  Lakes 
division:  1908. 


8,533 


786 
2,708 
1,382 

221 
3,142 

296 


Proprietors  and  independent  fishermen. — Slightly 
more  than  one-half  of  the  persons  engaged  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  United  States  in  1908  were  proprietors 


PERSONS  EMPLOYED,  SALARIES,  AND  WAGES. 


17 


and  independent  fishermen.  Nearly  two-thirds  of 
tliis  class  were  reported  from  the  Atlantic  coast  division, 
the  Mississippi  River  division  ranking  second  with  a 
little  more  than  one-eighth,  followed  by  the  Pacific 
coast,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  Great  I^akes,  in  the 
order  named.  The  greatest  percentage  of  proprietors 
and  independent  fishermen  appears  invariably  in  shore 
and  boat  fisheries.  This  is  natural,  as  it  was  to  be 
expected  that  independent  fishermen  would  pre- 
ponderate in  the  class  of  fisheries  wherein  the  capital 
required  and  cost  of  operation  are  not  great. 

The  largest  proportion  wliich  the  proprietors  and 
independent  fishermen  formed  of  the  total  number  of 
persons  employed  is  shown  for  the  Mississippi  River 
division,  where  more  than  three-fourths  were  of  this 
class.  The  number  is  smallest,  relatively,  in  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  division,  but  even  there  it  exceeds  one-third. 

The  salaried  employees  are  almost  a  neghgible 
quantity,  amounting  to  only  two-tenths  of  1  per  cent 
for  the  United  States  as  a  whole. 

Wage-earners  and  wages. — The  number  of  wage- 
earners  in  this  report  is  the  total  number  employed  at 
any  time  during  the  year.  The  wages  returned  on  the 
schedules  were  not  those  of  the  average  fishei'man, 
nor  for  any  uniform  period  throughout  the  country, 
nor  were  they  such  as  might  have  been  secured  if 
employment  had  been  continuous. 

In  many  cases  remuneration  is  not  wholly  in  money 
wages,  but  consists  either  altogether  or  in  part  in  a 
share  of  the  catch,  the  share  being  given  usually  as 
50  per  cent  of  the  catch  after  certain  expenses  are 
deducted. 

It  was  impossible  in  most  cases  to  obtain  from  the 
returns  the  net  share  of  the  catch  gomg  to  the  fisher- 
man. This  share  had  sometimes  been  calculated 
weekly  by  the  employing  fisherman  from  slips  which 
had  been  at  once  destroyed.  In  many  cases  an  esti- 
mate, made  either  by  the  employer  or  by  the  special 
agent  upon  information  furnished,  had  to  serve  the 
purpose.  These  estimates,  however,  are  believed  to 
be  substantially  representative  of  the  income  received. 

Some  inland  fishermen  work  for  wages,  with  appa- 
ratus and  board  furnished;  others  are  paid  by  the 
bushel  or  according  to  the  weight  of  their  catch.  In 
some  coast  fisheries  men  were  given  $25  a  month  and 
board  while  employed,  the  value  of  the  board  being 
calculated  at  $10  a  month.  Wlien  board  was  fur- 
nished in  addition  to  wages  it  is  included  in  the 
earnings  given  here.  The  earnings  were  frequently 
pieced  out  in  other  industries  or  occupations,  as,  for 
instance,  in  lumting  or  trapping,  or  perhaps  in 
farming;  for  in  some  sections  there  are  farmers  who, 
being  located  near  rivers,  set  seines  and  trawls,  em- 
ploying for  this  purpose  men  who,  when  not  thus 
occupied,  do  farm  work. 

The  nationahty  of  the  fishermen  may  possibly  have 
something  to  do  with  the  variations  in  the  earnings  in 
the  various  sections  of  the  country.  On  the  Gulf  of 
7678K°— 11 2 


Mexico  and  Southern  Atlantic  coasts  there  has  been 
httle  change  in  the  nationality  of  the  fishermen.  Off 
the  coast  of  Maine  the  fishermen  are  practically  all 
natives.  On  some  sections  of  the  Massachusetts  coast 
a  great  number  of  the  deep-sea  fishermen  are  Portu- 
guese and  natives  of  Nova  Scotia.  In  other  localities 
in  tliis  state  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  carried  on 
largely  by  Italians.  A  considerable  number  of  fisher- 
men in  Rhode  Island  are  Greeks.  From  New  Jersey 
there  were  reported  a  number  of  Swedes,  Norwegians, 
and  Finns  engaged  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  In  addition 
to  Americans — Finns,  Norwegians,  Swedes,  Slavonians, 
Greeks,  Italians,  Chinese,  and  Japanese  are  engaged 
in  the  fishery  industries  of  the  Pacific  coast. 

Most  of  the  vessels  of  the  New  England  fisheries  make 
a  number  of  voyages  to  the  fishing  grounds  in  the 
course  of  a  year.  In  some  instances  the  crews  were 
engaged  all  the  year  round  in  one  kind  of  fisheries  or 
another,  whereas  in  others  the  catch  was  confined  to 
one  or  two  kinds  of  fish  and  the  season  was  accordingly 
limited.  For  some  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states  the 
coast  fisherman's  average  season  was  given  as  six 
months.  The  oyster  season  lasts  from  September  to 
May,  when  the  crab  season  begins.  The  shad  season 
starts  in  December  in  the  South  when  the  shad  enters 
the  rivers  to  spawn,  and  the  season  is  successively 
later  and  later  northward.  Drift  or  rip  fLshing  off  the 
Massachusetts  coast  lasts  from  January  1  to  October, 
and  hand  line-fishing  from  the  side  of  the  vessel  extends 
to  the  end  of  the  calendar  year. 

It  will  be  noted  that  for  the  United  States  as  a 
whole  the  earnings  considered  relatively  to  the  number 
of  wage-earners  are  greatest  for  the  fishermen  em- 
ployed upon  vessels.  This  is  due  to  various  causes, 
among  them  being  a  greater  continuity  of  employment. 
In  some  instances  vessels  engaged  in  fishing  during  the 
fishing  season  were  employed  in  freighting  or  excursion 
business  for  the  rest  of  the  year.  Thus  the  crew  was 
employed  for  the  entire  year  and  the  wages  reported 
represented  the  year's  work,  as  it  was  impossible  to 
obtain  an  estimate  of  the  amount  that  should  be 
charged  to  fishing.  In  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
on  the  other  hand,  there  are  intervals  of  unemployment, 
and  the  earnings  can  be  supplemented,  if  need  be,  by 
work  in  other  occupations.  Moreover,  the  number  of 
fishermen  employed  on  vessels  is  more  readily  ascer- 
tainable; if  there  are  no  records,  then  the  estimates  can 
bo  more  closely  based  on  fact.  The  records  for  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  likely  to  be  scattered ;  and 
as  the  statistics  were  taken  some  months  after  the 
close  of  the  calendar  year  1908,  it  is  probable  that  the 
numbers  reported  were  not  always  perfectly  accurate. 

The  earnings  of  the  men  employed  on  transporting 
vessels  ranked  second.  Their  high  relative  earnings 
also  may  be  explained  by  the  more  accurate  methoils 
of  establisldng  the  figures  and  the  more  nearly  con- 
tinuous employment  observed  in  connection  with 
vessel  fisheries.     The  earnings  of  shoresmen  ranked 


18 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


third,  while  shore  and  boat  fishermen  earned,  relatively 
to  their  numbers,  less  than  those  employed  in  any  other 
branch  of  the  industry. 

It  was,  moreover,  true  of  every  main  geographic 
division,  shown  in  the  table  on  page  14,  that  the  gross 
wages  paid  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  relatively  to 
the  numbers  given  employment  at  any  time  of  the 
year,  however  short  the  term  of  employment,  ranked 
lowest  among  the  four  classes  of  fisheries.  In  three 
of  the  five  divisions — the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and  Great 
Lakes — such  relative  earnings  were  greatest  for  wage- 
earners  in  vessel  fisheries;  and  in  two — the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  and  Mississippi  River  divisions — they  were 
greatest  for  wage-earners  on  transporting  vessels. 

The  earnings  of  wage-earners  on  the  Atlantic  coast 
were,  relative  to  their  numbers,  less  than  those  for  any 
other  main  geographic  division  except  the  Mississippi 
River  division.  Notwithstanding  this  fact,  such  rela- 
tive earnings  in  the  New  England  states  were  larger 
than  for  any  of  the  main  geographic  divisions.  The 
reason  for  this  is  that  in  these  states  a  large  majority  of 
the  fishermen  are  employed  upon  vessels,  while  in  the 
Middle  Atlantic  and  South  Atlantic  states  the  majority 
are  engaged  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Comparison  with  prior  censuses. — Comparative  sta- 
tistics for  the  number  of  fishermen  (not  including 
shoresmen),  as  reported  at  the  present  census  and  at 
the  censuses  of  1890  and  1880,  are  given  in  the  follow 
ing  table.  It  should  be  noted,  however,  that  the 
figures  for  1889,  obtained  in  the  census  of  1890,  do  not 
include  persons  for  whom  fishing  was  a  transient  occu- 
pation, and  that  those  for  1880  do  not  include  the 
inland  waters,  excepting  the  Great  Lakes.  For  these 
reasons  any  comparison  of  the  different  years  is  of 
doubtful  value.  Possibly  fisheries  of  minor  impor- 
tance were  carried  on  in  Colorado,  Idaho,  Montana, 
Nevada,  North  Dakota,  Utah,  and  Vermont  in  inte- 
rior waters  not  directly  tributary  to  any  of  the  large 
divisions,  and  were  not  included  in  the  canvass  of  1908. 

It  would  appear  that  at  the  census  of  1890  a  num- 
ber of  fishermen  not  now  classed  as  commercial  fisher- 


men were  included.  In  1908  the  Atlantic  coast  states, 
including  Florida,  reported  11,172  fewer  fishermen 
than  in  1889,  but  15,647  more  than  in  1880;  while  the 
Pacific  coast  states  in  1908  reported  a  total  wliich  is 
3,169  more  than  in  1889  and  8,135  more  than  in  1880. 
Tlie  states  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  exclusive 
of  Florida,  but  including  the  entire  states  of  Louisiana 
and  Mississippi,  employed  in  1908,  7,308  more  than  in 
1889  and  7,766  more  than  in  1880. 


PERSONS    EMPLOYED.' 

1908 

188»» 

1880> 

Total 

141,031 

134,923 

95,684 

969 

998 

4,100 

667 

207 

4,697 

27 

2,376 

1,656 

102 

3,379 

212 

115 

799 

292 

348 

175 

374 

742 

10,944 

25,856 

15,693 

3,113 

474 

811 

504 

43 

90 

211 

314 

9,983 

8 

7,162 

8,612 

9 

1,832 

13 

2,911 

2,066 

1,745 

1,740 

62 

369 

684 

18 

117 

18,892 

2,971 

45 

1,456 

7 

54S 

2,089 

1.895 
1,744 

2,585 

1,662 

Pistrict  of  r,nJiiintiift , 

Florida             

9,006 
2,215 

2,284 

809 

Idaho  .           

Illinois 

4,359 

972 

786 

97 

544 

5,492 

6,857 

18,316 

11,535 

3,294 

931 

2.031 

906 

265 

Indiana. .            

45 

Louisiana 

1,300 

8,110 

Maryland                

15,873 

17,165 

1,600 

30 

110 

129 

79 
7,145 

376 

5,659 

6,172 
9,637 

5,650 

4,729 

Ohio                    

2,018 

3 

4,769 

1,237 

1,404 

2,530 

33 

427 

1,720 

925 

2,795 

611 

Rhode  Island              

1,602 

964 

Texas                                      

491 

Utah                                                              .     -  - 

Virginia 

19,905 

4,879 

8 

1,889 

16,051 

729 

West  Vireinia                                              i              ..   . 

730 

1  Not  including  shoresmen. 

'  Not  including  transient  fishermen. 

•  Not  including  those  employed  on  inland  waters,  excepting  the  Great  Lake. 


CHAPTER  lY. 


CAPITAL  AND  EQUIPMENT. 


Although  it  is  impossible  to  collect  satisfactory  sta- 
tistics in  regard  to  capital  invested  in  the  fishing  in- 
dustry, it  was  considered  necessary  to  include  in  the 
schedule  an  inquiry  on  this  subject.  The  number  and 
value  of  the  different  classes  of  vessels,  boats,  and  ap- 
paratus of  capture  were  reported  separately.  The 
value  of  land,  buildings,  machinery,  topis,  implements, 
and  other  fixed  capital,  as  well  as  cash  on  hand,  mate- 
rials in  stock,  and  the  various  other  items  of  live 
capital,  were  returned  as  separate  items  of  investment. 
The  instructions  for  the  inquiry  given  on  the  schedule 
were  as  follows: 

The  answer  must  show  the  total  amount  of  capital,  both  owned 
and  borrowed.  All  the  items  of  fixed  and  live  capital  may  be 
taken  at  the  amounts  carried  on  the  books.  If  land  or  buildings 
are  rented  or  vessels  are  chartered,  that  fact  should  be  stated  and 
the  value  given.  The  value  of  all  items  of  live  capital,  bills  re- 
ceivable, unsettled  ledger  accounts,  materials,  products,  and  cash 
on  hand,  etc.,  should  be  given  as, of  the  beginning  of  the  business 
year  reported. 

The  total  capital  invested  in  the  commercial  fish- 
eries of  the  United  States,  as  compiled  from  the  an- 
swers to  this  inquiry,  amounted  to  $42,021,000,  of 
which  57  per  cent  was  invested  in  vessel  fisheries  and 
43  per  cent  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  the  leading  items  of  capital: 


capital:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  mVESTlIENT. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$42,021,000 

$24,030,000 

$17,991,000 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit 

25,101,000 
8.999,000 
5,342,000 
2,579,000 

17,823,000 
2,203,000 
2,345,000 
1,658,000 

7,277,000 

6,796,000 

2,997,000 

921  00(1 

Shore  and  accessory  property    . 

Casli 

Shore  and  accessory  property  includes  wharf  prop- 
erty, fish  depots,  house  boats,  shelters  built  near  or 
upon  fishing  grounds,  and  unused  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture; it  does  not  include  investments  in  preserving  or 
canning  establishments.  Cash  consists  of  the  current 
funds  employed  in  the  business. 

In  the  case  of  both  classes  of  fisheries  the  craft 
used  was  the  largest  item  of  investment.  The  capital 
invested  in  the  vessels,  including  outfits,  of  the  vessel 
fisheries  was  nearly  equal  to  the  entire  investment  in 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  more  than  twice  the  capi- 
tal reported  as  invested  in  boats  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.     The  apparatus  of  capture  used  by  the  shore 


and  boat  fisheries,  however,  had  a  value  over  three 
times  as  great  as  that  used  by  the  vessel  fisheries. 
The  investment  in  shore  and  accessory  property  was 
larger  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  but  a  larger 
amount  of  cash  was  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries. 
The  amount  represented  by  shore  and  accessory  prop- 
erty and  cash  combined  did  not  differ  materially  for 
the  two  classes  of  fisheries. 

The  capital  invested  in  the  Atlantic  coast  division 
exceeded  that  of  all  the  other  divisions  combined,  be- 
ing 60  per  cent  of  the  total  In  the  case  of  nearly 
every  item  more  than  one-half  of  the  total  for  the 
United  States  was  reported  for  this  geographic  divi- 
sion. 

The  Great  Lakes  division  is  the  only  one  in  which 
there  was  less  capital  invested  in  vessels  and  boats 
than  in  apparatus  of  capture.  In  this  district  the 
amount  reported  for  shore  and  accessory  property 
and  cash  was  relatively  high. 

The  capital  invested  is  presented  by  main  geographic 
divisions  in  Table  1  on  page  22  and  by  states  on  page 
13.  Those  states  reporting  an  amount  in  excess  of 
$2,000,000  are  shown  in  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment in  the  order  of  rank.  The  nine  states  given  had 
invested  a  total  capital  of  $27,227,000,  or  65  per  cent 
of  the  total  investment  in  the  industry. 


capttal: 

1908. 

STATE. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

$42,021,000 

5,750,000 
3,832,000 
3,441,000 
2,984,000 
2,416,000 
2,411,000 
2,281,000 
2,099,000 
2,013,000 
14,794,000 

New  York ■ 

9 

Washington 

g 

Florida 

5 

Maine 

Connecticut 

5 

Michigan 

5 

35 

Vessels  and  boats. — Table  3  on  page  23  gives  in 
detail  the  statistics  of  vessels  and  boats  for  the  United 
States  as  a  whole,  and  for  the  main  geographic  divisions. 
The  value  of  vessels,  outfits  of  vessels,  and  boats  em- 
ployed in  the  fisheries  of  the  United  States  amounted 
to  $25,101,000,  or  60  per  cent  of  the  total  capital. 

The  distinction  between  vessels  and  boats  is  one  of 
tonnage.  The  term  "vessel"  is  applied  to  all  craft 
of  5  tons  register  or  over,  whether  or  not  they  are 
registered  as  required  by  the  navigation  laws  of  the 

(19) 


20 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


United  States.  All  craft  of  less  than  5  tons  are  classi- 
fied as  boats. 

Outfit  includes  provisions  for  the  crew,  and  salt, 
bait,  ice,  and  other  articles  used  in  the  taking  and  pre- 
serving of  the  product,  but  does  not  include  boats  car- 
ried by  the  vessels  and  such  articles  as  repair  tools, 
nautical  instruments,  hawsers,  anchors,  or  charts. 
As  these  are  considered  a  part  of  the  vessel,  their 
value  is  included  in  the  value  of  the  vessels. 

The  subclass  bearing  the  designation  "Other," 
which  is  shown  in  the  tables  under  the  heads  of  both 
vessels  and  boats,  includes  scows  and  barges  and  all 
unrigged  or  towed  craft  of  5  tons  or  more  register  in 
the  class  of  vessels  and  of  less  than  5  tons  in  the  class 
of  boats.  It  does  not  include  house  boats,  floating 
wharves,  or  any  sort  of  moored  craft  used  only  as 
living  quarters,  as  warehouses,  or  as  docks.  Such  items 
are  included  under  "Shore  and  accessory  property." 

The  investment  in  vessels  was  $13,806,000,  or  55 
per  cent  of  the  total  investment  in  craft,  including  out- 
fits, and  the  investment  in  their  outfits,  $4,026,000,  or 
16  per  cent,  together  making  a  total  of  $17,832,000 
pertaining  to  vessel  fisheries,  or  71  per  cent  of  the  value 
of  all  floating  equipment.  The  investment  in  boats, 
which  was  $7,269,000,  or  29  per  cent  of  the  total,  rep- 
resents the  share  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  this 
kind  of  equipment.  Boats  carried  on  vessels  must  not 
be  confused  with  boats  used  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  value  of  the  former  is  included  in  the 
value  of  the  vessels. 

Vessels  are  of  two  classes,  those  engaged  in  fishing 
and  those  engaged  in  transporting  the  product  to  port 
or  to  market.  Fishing  vessels  had  a  value  of 
$11,276,000,  or  82  per  cent  of  the  total  for  vessels  and 
54  per  cent  of  the  total  for  all  craft.  The  value  of 
outfits  was  much  larger  for  the  fishing  vessels,  as 
transporting  vessels  carry  no  bait  and  remain  away 
from  port  a  shorter  period.  Including  outfits,  the 
fishing  vessels  had  a  total  value  of  $14,849,000,  of 
which  the  value  of  outfits  constituted  24  per  cent;  and 
the  transporting  vessels  a  total  value  of  $2,982,000,  of 
which  the  value  of  outfits  constituted  15  per  cent. 
Fishing  vessels  and  their  outfits  formed  59  per  cent  of 
the  investment  in  vessels,  outfits,  and  boats,  and 
transporting  vessels  12  per  cent. 

The  classification  of  vessels  and  boats  according  to 
means  of  propulsion  is  of  special  interest  as  showing 
the  extent  to  which  power  craft  are  used.  The  vessels 
reported  under  the  head  "Steam  and  motor"  were 
mainly  steam  vessels,  and  the  boats  so  reported 
principally  gasoline  and  naphtha  launches. 

Of  the  $21,075,000  invested  in  vessels  and  boats,  not 
including  outfits,  55  per  cent  represents  the  value  of 
craft  propelled  by  engines,  39  per  cent  the  value  of 
sailing  boats  and  vessels,  4  per  cent  the  value  of  row- 
boats,  and  2  per  cent  the  value  of  other  boats  and 
vessels. 


Vessels  and  boats,  by  divisions. — The  Atlantic  coast 
division  is  credited  with  66  per  cent  of  the  total 
investment  in  vessels  and  boats.  Of  the  $16,553,000 
so  invested  there,  58  per  cent  was  in  vessels,  17  per 
cent  in  outfits,  and  25  per  cent  in  boats.  The  per- 
centages for  vessels  and  outfits  are  larger  than  in  any 
other  division,  and  that  for  boats  is  smaller. 

The  value  of  the  steam  and  motor  vessels  in  use  in 
the  Atlantic  coast  division  was  50  per  cent  of  the  total 
for  all  vessels  in  the  division,  but  their  number  and  ton- 
nage formed  only  34  per  cent  and  29  per  cent,  respec- 
tively, of  the  corresponding  totals.  Although  69  per 
cent  of  the  steam  tonnage  of  all  vessels  in  the  United 
States  fisheries  was  reported  from  the  Atlantic  coast 
division,  the  proportions  of  the  total  number,  tonnage, 
and  value  were  higher  for  sailing  vessels,  indicating  a 
greater  relative  use  of  the  latter  in  these  waters.  The 
value  of  steam  vessels,  not  including  outfits,  exceeded 
that  of  saifing  vessels  among  fishing  vessels  in  this 
division,  but  not  among  transporting  vessels. 

Steam  and  motor  boats  of  the  Atlantic  coast  divi- 
sion, although  forming  only  16  per  cent  of  all  boats 
in  number,  contributed  60  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  boats  for  that  division.  Of  the  value  of  all  craft 
in  the  Atlantic  coast  division,  $7,324,000,  or  53  per 
cent,  represents  the  value  of  craft  equipped  with 
steam  or  other  power;  $5,833,000,  or  42  per  cent, 
that  of  sailing  craft;  $484,000,  or  4  per  cent,  row- 
boats;  and  $90,000,  or  less  than  one-tenth  of  1  per 
cent,  scows  or  barges. 

The  Pacific  coast  division  ranked  next  to  the  Atlantic 
coast  division  in  the  amount  invested  in  vessels,  outfits, 
and  boats,  although  it  reported  only  14  per  cent  of  the 
total  for  the  United  States.  Steam  vessels  were  in 
general  use,  forming  72  per  cent  of  all  vessels  and  con- 
tributing 83  per  cent  of  the  entire  value. 

In  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  division  the  investment  in  ves- 
sels, outfits,  and  boats  amounted  to  $2,805,000,  which 
was  11  per  cent  of  that  for  the  United  States.  The 
proportion  represented  by  transporting  vessels  was  16 
per  cent,  which  was  greater  than  in  the  country  as  a 
whole. 

The  capital  invested  in  vessels  and  boats  in  the 
Great  Lakes  division  ($1,651,000,  or  7  per  cent  of  the 
total)  was  distributed  as  follows:  vessels,  52  percent; 
outfits,  1 1  per  cent ;  and  boats,  37  per  cent.  With  one 
exception,  all  vessels  were  operated  by  steam  or 
motor  power.  Of  the  value  of  boats  on  the  Great 
Lakes,  81  per  cent  is  credited  to  power  craft,  while 
steam  or  motor  craft  represents  92  per  cent  of  the 
total  investment  in  craft,  not  including  outfit. 

The  investment  of  the  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi 
River  and  its  tributaries  m  vessels  and  boats  ($547,000, 
including  outfits),  was  2  per  cent  of  the  total  so  in- 
vested in  the  United  States.  This  is  the  only  division 
in  which  the  value  of  the  boats  exceeded  that  of  the 
vessels.     Steam  and  motor  craft  contributed  61  per 


CAPITAL  AND  EQUIPMENT. 


21 


cent  of  the  value  of  all  boats  and  65  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  craft  of  the  Mississippi  River  division, 
which,  exclusive  of  outfits,  was  $528,000. 

The  amount  invested  in  vessels  in  the  United  States 
as  a  whole  was  divided  between  fishing  vessels  and 
transporting  vessels  in  the  proportion  of  82  per  cent 
and  18  per  cent,  respectively.  In  the  Atlantic  coast 
division  the  proportion  of  the  total  vessel  investment 
represented  by  fishing  vessels  was  83  per  cent ;  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  78  per  cent;  in  the  Pacific  coast,  73 
per  cent;  in  the  Great  Lakes,  91  per  cent;  and  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries, 
19  per  cent. 

The  average  tonnage  of  vessels  was  slightly  over  18 
tons,  the  average  for  steam  vessels  being  16  tons,  and 
for  sailing  vessels  20  tons.  The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  average  tonnage  of  the  several 
classes  of  vessels  for  the  United  States  and  for  the 
five  geographic  divisions: 


AVERAGE  TONNAGE  OF  VESSEL. 

CLASS  OF  VES8KF.. 

United 
States. 

.Atlan- 
tic 
(•oast 
divi- 
sion. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
divi- 
sion. 

Pacific 
coast 
divi- 
sion. 

Great 
Lakes 
divi- 
sion. 

Missis- 

rilver 
divi- 
sion. 

Fishing  vessels: 

17 
20 

12 
21 

If. 
20 

11 

17 

9 
14 

15 
11 

43 
125 

13 
667 

14 

7 

Sail 

Transporting  vessels: 
St«ani , . 

14 

12 

Sail 

7 

Apparatus  of  capture. — The  total  investment  in 
apparatus  of  capture  was  $8,999,000.  Detailed  statis- 
tics for  each  class  of  fisheries  are  given  in  Table  2  on 
page  22. 

In  point  of  value,  pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 
were  the  most  important  class  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
having  a  total  value  of  $3,000,000,  which  is  33  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  all  apparatus  of  capture  used. 
The  value  of  the  pound  net  varied  greatly  according 
to  its  size,  ranging  from  less  than  $100  to  over 
$2,000  for  some  in  use  in  the  Pacific  coast  division. 
They  were  most  numerous  in  the  Atlantic  coast  fish- 
eries. Gill  nets  were  in  extensive  and  general  use,  rank- 
ing second  in  value  among  all  apparatus  of  capture. 

Next  in  importance  to  gill  nets  were  seines,  valued 
at  $937,000,  of  which  $286,000  represents  the  value 
of  466  purse  seines  and  $652,000  that  of  7,530  haul 
and  other  seines.  By  far  the  greater  number  of  the 
seines  used  and  all  but  9  per  cent  of  the  purse  seines 
were  reported  by  the  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets  ranked  fourth  in  value. 
Although  used  in  large  numbers  in  every  division, 
they  were  most  prominent  in  the  fisheries  of  the 
Mississippi    River   and   its    tributaries,    which   con- 


tributed 66  per  cent  of  the  number  and  56  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  all  fyke  and  hoop  nets  used  in  this 
country. 

The  value  of  all  classes  of  nets  used  in  the  fisheries 
of  the  United  States  amounted  to  $7,315,000,  or  81 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  apparatus  of  capture. 

Of  apparatus  other  than  nets,  the  most  important 
as  measured  by  value  were  hand,  trawl,  and  set  lines. 
The  Atlantic  coast  division  led  in  this  kind  of  ap- 
paratus, reporting  $367,000,  or  77  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  lines  used. 

Pots  and  traps  of  various  kinds,  which  had  a  total 
value  of  $457,000,  were  for  the  most  part  employed 
in  the  lobster  and  eel  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 
The  few  lobster  pots  and  traps  shown  for  the  Pacific 
coast  fisheries  were  used  in  the  spring  lobster  catch. 
Practically  all  the  eel  pots  and  traps  belonged  to 
the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries. 

Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  etc.,  were  used  most  exten- 
sively in  the  Atlantic  coast  and  Gulf  of  Mexico  fisheries. 
This  class  of  apparatus  was  also  used  to  a  small  extent 
in  the  mussel-shell  industry  of  the  Mississippi  River 
division  and  in  the  moUuscan  fisheries  of  the  Pacific 
coast. 

Other  apparatus  of  capture  included  the  wheels  and 
slides  of  the  Pacific  coast  fisheries,  the  fishing  machines 
of  North  Carolina,  and  the  sponge  apparatus  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  sponge  fisheries. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  amoimt 
invested  in  apparatus  of  capture,  by  states,  arranged 
in  the  order  of  the  value  of  apparatus  reported : 


United  States 

Washington 

Michigan 

Oregon 

Massachusetts 

Maine 

California 

Vireinia 

Ohio 

Wisconsin 

Maryland 

North  Carolina 

New  York 

Florida 

Illinois 

Rhode  Island 

Pennsylvania 

All  other  states 


Valueofappa 
ratus  of  cap- 
ture: 1908. 


$8,999,000 


1,162,000 
821,000 
795,000 
775,000 
876,000 
502,000 
485,000 
423,000 
407,000 
369,000 
367,000 
362,000 
326,000 
272,000 
230,000 
114,000 

1,014,000 


The  table  on  page  22  gives  statistics  concerning  the 
different  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture  as  reported 
for  the  vessel  and  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
respectively. 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash. — The  dis- 
tribution of  the  capital  invested  in  shore  and  accessory 
property  and  cash  is  shown  by  geographic  divisions  in 
the  table  following. 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER  CAPITAL:  1908. 


UNITED  STATES. 

ATLANTIC  COAST 
DrVISION. 

GULF  OF  MEXICO 

DnrisioN. 

PACIFIC  COA.ST 
DIVISION. 

MISSISSIPPI 
RIVER  DIVISION. 

GREAT  LAKES 
DIVISION. 

PER  CENT   OF  TOTAL. 

CLASS  OF 
DtVESTJIKin'. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Atlan- 
tic 
coast 
divi- 
sion. 

Gulf 
of 
Mexico 
divi- 
sion. 

Pa- 
cific 
coast 
divi- 
sion. 

Missis- 
sippi 
Kiver 
divi- 
sion. 

Great 
Laltes 
divl- 
sion. 

Total 

$42,021,000 

100 

125,398,000 

100 

$3,901,000 

100 

$6, 468;  000 

100 

$1,440,000 

100 

$4,814,000 

100 

60 

9 

15 

3 

U 

Vessels,   Including 
outfit 

17,831,000 
14,849,000 
2,982,000 
7,269,000 
4,016,000 
2,062,000 
1,190,000 
8,999,000 

7,921,000 

42 
35 
7 
17 
10 
5 
3 
21 

19 

12,449,000 
10,607,000 
1,842,000 
4,104,000 
2,471,000 
1,073,000 
560,000 
3,822,000 

5,023,000 

49 
42 
7 
16 
10 
4 
2 
15 

20 

1,964,000 
1,518,000 
447,000 
841,000 
207,000 
505,000 
129,000 
374,000 

722,000 

50 
39 
11 
22 

6 
13 

3 
10 

19 

2,307,000 

1,764,000 
643,000 

1,237,000 
552,000 
449,000 
236,000 

2,459,000 

465,000 

36 

27 
8 

19 
9 
7 
4 

38 

7 

77,000 
19,000 
68,000 
470,000 
289,000 
1,000 
180,000 
614,000 

379,000 

5 
1 
4 
33 
20 
(') 
12 
36 

26 

1,034,000 

942,000 

92,000 

617,000 

497,000 

35,000 

85,000 

1,831,000 

1,332,000 

21 

20 

2 

13 

10 

1 

2 

38 

28 

70 
71 
62 
56 
62 
52 
47 
42 

63 

11 
10 
15 
12 

5 
24 
11 

4 

9 

13 
12 
18 
17 
14 
22 
20 
27 

6 

6 
7 
(') 
IS 
6 

5 

6 

Fishing 

6 

Transporting 

Boats 

3 

8 

Steam  and  motor. 
Sail 

12 
3 

Row  and  other... 

Apparatus  of  capture . 

Shore  and  accessory 

property  and  cash. . 

7 
20 

17 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 
Tablb  2.— apparatus  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 


Total. 


Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

0111  nets 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs. 
Seines 

Purse 

Haul,  and  other 

Trammel  nets 

Other  nets 


Bow. 
Cast. 


dinner  nets,  cunner  traps,  and  trap  nets. 

Dip 

Paranzella 

Shrimp 

Stop 

Beam  trawls 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Lines— hand,  trawl,  and  set 

Pots  and  traps 

Eel  pots  and  traps 

Ix)bster  pots  and  traps 

Otter,  minlt,  and  muskrat  traps 

Other  pots  and  traps 

Sponge  apparatus 

Wheels  and  slides 

Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  etc 

All  other 


Number. 


81,191 

233,256 

16,104 

7,996 

466 

7,530 

4,760 

13,027 

176 

723 

1,853 

191 

5,796 

20 

4,243 

25 

169 


4M,002 
32,172 
270,251 
133,185 
28,394 


Value. 


$8,999,000 


504,000 

2,709,000 

3,000,000 

937,000 

286,000 

652,000 

121,000 

44,000 

5,500 

2,300 

9,200 

400 

10,000 

7,200 

8,800 

400 

4,900 

16,000 

476,000 

467,000 

25,000 

376, 000 

28,000 

29,000 

76,000 

237,000 

375,000 

41,000 


VESSEL  FISmSRIES. 


Number. 


4,390 

111,093 

362 

1,111 

406 

645 

83 

24 

3 


28,568 
3,769 

22,787 

12 

2,000 


Value. 


$1,910,000 


19,000 

779,000 

166,000 

342,000 

286,000 

56,000 

4,200 

7,200 

100 


(•) 


7,100 


3,500 

11,000 

353,000 

40,000 

4.200 

35,000 

(>) 

1,200 

55,000 


118,000 
12,000 


SHORE  AND  BOAT 
FISHERIES. 


Number. 


76,801 

122, 163 

16,762 

6,885 


6,885 

4,677 

13,003 

173 

723 

1,853 

191 

5,794 

1 

4,243 

25 


435,434 

28,403 

247, 464 

133,173 

26,394 


Value. 


$7,089,000 


485,000 
1,930,000 
2,835,000 

695,000 


595,000 

117,000 

37,000 

6,400 

2,300 

9,200 

400 

10,000 

100 

8,800 

400 

1,600 

4,600 

122,000 

417,000 

20,000 

341,000 

28,000 

28,000 

22,000 

237,000 

257,000 

29,000 


>  Less  than  $100. 


CAPITAL  AND  EQUIPMENT. 

Table  3.— NITMBER,  TONNAGE,  AND  VALUE  OF  VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 


23 


CLASS. 

United  States. 

Atlantic 

coast 
division. 

Gulf  of 

Mexico 

division. 

Pacific 

coast 

division. 

Great  Lakes 
division. 

Mississippi 

Klver 
division. 

$2,5,101,000 

$16,653,000 

$2,806,000 

$3,546,000 

$1,661,000 

$647,000 

Vessels: 

6,933 

126,453 

$13,806,000 

$4,026,000 

11,805 

2,561 

40,723 

$7,540,000 

$1,762,000 

3,629 

4,182 

85,730 

$6,196,000 

$2,264,000 

8,176 

190 
$70,000 

5,148 

96,009 

$11,276,000 

$3,574,000 

10,340 

1,888 

32,609 

$6,012,000 

$1,482,000 

3,066 

3, 1.36 

63,400 

$5,249,000 

$2,091,000 

7,284 

125 
$16,000 

1,785 

30,444 

$2,530,000 

$452,000 

1,465 

673 

8,114 

$1,529,000 

$280,000 

573 

1,047 

22,330 

$947,000 

$172,000 

892 

66 
$55,000 

83,549 
$7,269,000 

12,251 
$4,016,000 

20, 144 
$2,062,000 

47,785 
$904,000 

3,369 
$286,000 

6,370 

96,502 

$9,628,000 

$2,821,000 

9,671 

1,844 

28,037 

$4,853,000 

$1,003,000 

2,900 

3,447 

67,465 

$4,761,000 

$1,818,000 

0,771 

79 
$14,000 

3,959 

73,749 

$8,035,000 

$2,572,000 

8,419 

1,410 

23,295 

$4,067,000 

$806,000 

2,490 

2,467 

60,454 

$3,955,000 

$1,706,000 

5,929 

76 
$12,000 

1,411 

21,753 

$1,593,000 

$249,000 

1,252 

428 

4,742 

$786,000 

$138,000 

410 

980 

17,01! 

$806,000 

$112,000 

842 

3 
$1,800 

52,114 
$4,104,000 

8,472 
$2,471,000 

14,410 
$1,073,000 

27,096 
$484,000 

2,136 
$76,000 

915 

11,665 

$1,621,000 

$443,000 

1,300 

162 

1,973 

$334,000 

$88,000 

177 

696 

9,692 

$1,145,000 

$354,000 

1,123 

58 
$43,000 

746 

9,702 

$1,181,000 

$337,000 

1,164 

73 

645 

$96,000 

$27,000 

85 

637 

9,057 

$1,084,000 

$310,000 

1,079 

36 
$900 

169 

1,903 

$341,000 

$106,000 

136 

89 

1,328 

$238,000 

$61,000 

92 

58 

635 

$61,000 

$46,000 

44 

22 
$42,000 

8,971 
$841,000 

518 
$207,000 

2,443 
$505,000 

5,830 
$105,000 

180 
$24,000 

294 

14,503 

$1,740,000 

$568,000 

640 

211 

6,944 

$1,439,000 

$476,000 

358 

38 

8,569 

$290,000 

$91,000 

282 

45 
$10,000 

149 

8,471 

$1,269,000 

$496,000 

595 

107 

4,582 

$1,067,000 

$420,000 

319 

31 

3,889 

$210,000 

$75,000 

276 

11 
$1,100 

146 

6,032 

$471,000 

$72,000 

46 

104 

1,362 

$382,000 

$66,000 

39 

7 

4,670 

$80,000 

$16,000 

6 

34 
$9,100 

7,231 
$1,237,000 

868 
$552,000 

2.903 
$449,000 

2,8.57 
$96,000 

603 
$142,000 

319 

4,499 

$859,000 

$175,000 

166 

318 

4,499 

$859,000 

$175,000 

166 

35 

284 

Value  of  vessels 

$68,000 

$19,000 
28 

Boats  carried,  number 

Steam  and  motor- 

26 

270 

$56,000 

$19,000 

23 

Value  of  outfit                 

SaU" 

2 

14 

$400 

Other— 

Number              

1 
$100 

287 

4,047 

$780,000 

$162,000 

153 

286 

4,047 

$780,000 

$162,000 

153 

7 

$2,300 

7 

40 

$11,000 
$7,500 

Boats  carried,  number 

9 

Steam  and  motor— 

Num!>er  .  .             

6 

40 

$11,000 

Value  of  outfit                     .                          

$7,500 

9 

8aU- 

Other- 

1 
$100 

32 

462 

$79,000 

$14,000 

13 

32 
452 

$79,000 

$14,000 

13 

1 

$200 

Transporting  vessels — 

28 

244 

$47,000 

$11,000 
19 

Steam  and  motor— 

20 

230 

$46,000 

$11,000 

19 

8aU- 

Numl>er                                  

2 

14 

$400 

Value  of  outfit                                                        .      -  .             .... 

other— 

6 

Valus  of  vessels                                       

$2,100 

Number                                                               .      ...          

3,956 
$617,000 

1,086 
$497,000 

378 
$35,000 

2,290 
$51,000 

202 
$34,000 

11,277 

Value 

$470,000 

Steam  and  motor- 

1,307 

Value     

$289,000 

SaU— 

Number 

10 

$1,000 

Row- 
Number                                                                      

9,712 

Value 

$169,000 

Other- 

248 

Value                                   

$11,000 

CHAPTER  V. 
PRODUCTS. 


The  value  of  the  fishery  products  in  1908  is  the 
largest  yet  recorded,  and  is  in  harmony  with  the  slow 
but  steady  growth  revealed  byprevious  canvasses  made 
under  the  direction  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  or  by  the 
Bureau  of  the  Census.  Comparative  figures  as  to  the 
total  value  of  products  for  190S  and  prior  years  have 
been  given  in  Chapter  I  of  this  report.  Table  1,  on 
page  26,  is  a  comparative  summary  of  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  products  at  the  present  census  and  as 
reported  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  the  period 
1900-1904,  grouped  according  to  general  classes. 

The  increase  has  been  more  or  less  general  for  those 
items  which  are  shown  separately  for  both  periods. 
There  were  decreases  both  in  quantity  and  value  for 
menhaden  and  whale  products  and  a  decrease  in  value 
for  oysters,  although  the  quantity  of  this  product 
shows  an  increase.  Under  the  head  "All  other  products  " 
for  the  period  1900-1904  are  included  products  which 
were  reported  separately  in  1908.  The  total  products 
show  an  increase  in  value  over  those  for  the  earlier  years 
of  9  per  cent,  the  value  of  the  fish  products  reported 
increasing  17  per  cent  and  that  of  crustaceans  25 
per  cent.  Mollusks  show  a  slight  decrease  in  value, 
amounting  to  3  per  cent,  and  the  whale  products  a 
large  decrease,  amounting  to  39  per  cent. 

The  following  statement  shows  the  distribution  of 
the  chief  products  of  the  fisheries  as  reported  in  1908: 


• 

FISHERY  products:  1908. 

OAas. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

• 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

1,893,454,000 

100 

$54,031,000 

100 

Fish 

1,441,317,000 

1,046,541,000 

394,776,000 

96,225,000 

347.799,000 

622,000 

4,028,000 

3,462.000 

76 
55 
21 
5 

18 

30,247,000 

29,354,000 

893,000 

3,466,000 

18,752,000 

545,000 

497,000 

523,000 

56 

Food  fish 

HenhadeD 

2 

fVllst.n/v>Ans 

6 
36 

1 

fijnnniTPR 

All  Other 

I 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

Fish  proper  formed  more  than  three-fourths  of  the 
quantity  (76  per  cent)  and  more  than  half  the  value 
(56  per  cent)  of  the  entire  product.  Menhaden  alone 
contributed  more  than  one-fourth  of  the  total  quantity 
but  less  than  one-thirtieth  of  the  total  value  of  fish.  On 
account  of  the  great  importance  of  the  oj^ster  fisheries 
mollusks  were  the  most  important  product  out.side  of 
i5sh  proper,  both  in  quantity  and  in  value,  forming  18 
per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  35  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products. 
(24) 


Table  2,  on  page  26,  gives  statistics  showing  the 
products  by  species  for  the  United  States  and  for  the 
several  geograpliic  divisions.  The  value  of  the  product 
taken  by  the  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic  coast  division  is 
nearly  double  that  of  all  the  rest  of  the  country  com- 
bined, being  66  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  United 
States.  The  Pacific  coast  division  ranked  next  in  the 
value  of  its  catch,  with  13  per  cent  of  the  total.  The 
Gulf  of  Mexico,  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the  Mississippi 
River  divisions  contributed,  respectively,  9  per  cent, 
7  per  cent,  and  6  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  The 
oyster  product  leads  all  other  species  in  value, 
contributing  29  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
Salmon  ranked  next  to  oysters  in  the  value  of  the 
catch,  being  the  leading  species  of  fish  in  this  respect. 
A  catch  valued  at  $2,000,000  or  over  is  also  reported 
for  cod  and  shad,  while  lobsters,  clams,  squeteague, 
halibut,  haddock,  and  carp  each  show  a  product 
in  excess  of  §1,000,000  in  value.  In  the  first  of  the 
following  tables  the  30  leading  species,  including  all  for 
wliich  the  reported  product  had  a  value  in  excess  of 
$400,000,  are  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  the 
catch,  and  in  the  second  the  quantity  and  value  of 
products  are  shown  by  states  ranked  according  to 
value  of  product: 


Rank. 


Total . 


Oysters 

Salmon 

Cod 

Shad 

Lobster 

Clams' 

Squeteague 

Halibut 

Haddock 

Carp,  German 

Lake  herring 

Crabs2 

Mullet 

Menhaden 

Mackerel 

Lake  trout 

Herring,  salt-water 

Catfi.sh 

Mussel    shells,    pearls,    and 

slugs 

Snapper 

Alewives , 

Floimders 

i*ike  perch , 

Sponges 

Whitefish 

niueflsh 

Buffalo  fish 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Hake 

Pollack 

All  other 


FISHERY  products:  1908. 


Quantity. 


1,893,454,000 


233,:«9,000 
90,417,000 

110,054,000 
27,641,000 
15,2''9,000 
1(),717,(X10 
49,869,000 
34,441,000 
59,987,000 
42,7(i.'i,000 
41,118,000 
52, 91.%  000 
33,703,000 

394, 776, 000 
12, 10:i,  000 
12,024,000 

125,0,50,000 
17,817,000 

81,869,000 

13,854,000 

89,978,000 

23,346,000 

15,247,000 

622,000 

7,722,000 

7,647,000 

16,729,000 

19,080,000 

34,340,000 

29. 462, 000 

183,574,000 


Per 
cent  dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 


154,031,000 


Value. 


Amount. 


15,713,000 

3,347,000 

2,914,000 

2,113,000 

1,931,000 

1,8%,  000 

1,770,000 

1,562,000 

1,308,000 

1,135,000 

989,000 

912,000 

908,000 

893,000 

848,000 

800,000 

796,000 

785,000 

692,000 
651,000 
589,000 
588,000 
580,000 
545,000 
524,000 
506,000 
498,000 
494,000 
464,000 
402,000 
6,872,000 


Per 
cent  dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 


100 


2S 
6 
IS 
i 
4 
i 
3 
3 
2 
2 
2 
3 
2 
2 
2 


13 


•  Not  including  surf  clams. 

2  Not  including  king,  spider,  and  stone  crabs. 

•  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


PRODUCTS. 


25 


United  States. , 


Massachusetts — 

Virginia 

New  Yorlc 

Washington 

Florida 

Maryland 

Maine 

New  Jersey 

Connecticut 

California 

Nort,h  Carolina. . . 

Rhode  Island 

Louisiana 

Michigan 

Illinois 

Oregon 

Wisconsin 

Ohio 

Georgia 

Mississippi 

Delaware 

Pennsylvania 

Texas' 

Alabama 

Missouri 

South  Carolina. . . 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Arkansas 

Minnesota 

Tennessee 

Kentucky 

New  Hampshire. 

Kansas 

Nebraska 

South  Dakota... 
West  Virginia... 
Oklahoma 


naBEBY  FBODDCTS:  1908. 


Quantity. 


Pounds. 


1,89.1,454,000 


244, 

312, 

7«, 

100, 

"4, 

113, 

173, 

Ti, 

66, 

47, 

101, 

44, 

40, 

38, 

74, 

28, 

30, 

28, 

14, 

20, 

70, 

11, 

10, 

10, 

6, 

14, 

15, 

8, 

12. 

7i 

4. 

5, 


313,000 
515,000 
485,000 
456,000 
(587,000 
796,000 
84.3,000 
827,000 
942,000 
477,000 
422, 000 
254,000 
106, 000 
.302,000 
620.000 
217,000 
953,000 
917,000 
828,000 
547,000 
7(19,000 
888,000 
439, «» 
665, 000 
761,000 
104,000 
507,000 
867,000 
5(i7,n00 
475,000 
506,000 
390,000 
677,000 
432,000 
399,000 
70,000 
.33,000 
6,700 


Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 


<'1 


(>) 

(') 
(') 
(') 
(') 
('■) 
(') 
(>) 
(') 
(') 


Value. 


$54,031,000 


7,095, 

4,716, 

4,594, 

3,  ,113, 

3,389, 

3,306, 

3,257, 

3,069, 

2,982, 

1,970, 

1,776, 

1,752, 

1,569, 

1,473, 

1,436, 

1,356, 

1,067, 

840, 

701, 

556, 

541, 

613, 

446, 

387, 

271, 

288, 

223, 

215, 

207, 

192, 

112, 

110, 

53, 

28, 

22, 

4, 

2, 


Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 


100 


13 


^^ 


(') 
(') 
(') 
(') 
(') 
(') 


'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

Statistics  are  shown  separately  for  over  a  himrlred 
species  of  fish  proper,  and  in  addition  for  about  50 
species  of  crustaceans,  mollusks,  aquatic  mammals, 
and  other  products.  Many  of  the  products  are  brought 
in  from  the  fishing  grounds  in  a  salted  condition  or  are 
smoked  by  the  fishermen  and  are  so  reported. 

The  quantity  and  value  of  the  catch  taken  by  each 
class  of  apparatus  of  capture  is  shown  in  Table  3,  on 
page  29,  for  the  United  States  and  for  each  of  the 
main  geographic  divisions  into  which  it  is  divided. 
The  table  also  shows  the  catch  taken  by  each  class  of 
apparatus  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries. 

Table  4,  on  page  30,  shows  the  products  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

Ranked  in  order  of  value,  the  catch  with  dredges, 
tongs,  rakes,  etc.,  is  first  in  importance,  representing 
35  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products.  Lines 
ranked  next,  17  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products 
being  taken  by  this  form  of  apparatus,  followed  by  gill 


nets  with  14  per  cent,  seines  with  11  per  cent,  and 
pound  and  trap  nets  and  weirs  with  1 0  per  cent  of  the 
total.  Wheels  and  slides  are  of  cours»  used  only  in 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  whaling  apparatus 
only  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  With  these  exceptions 
all  classes  of  apparatus  were  employed  in  both  classes 
of  fisheries,  although  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  pound  and 
trap  nets,  pots  and  traps,  and  gill  nets  pertain  more 
particularly  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  catch  by  lines  in  vessel  fisheries  was 
nearly  three  times  in  value  that  of  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries. 

Since  the  bulk  of  the  oyster  product  comes  from 
the  Atlantic  coast,  a  greater  proportion  of  the  total 
product,  45  per  cent,  was  taken  by  dredges,  tongs, 
etc.,  in  that  division  than  in  any  other.  The  line  catch 
represents  18  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products 
for  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries.  For  both  these  classes 
of  apparatus  the  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  exceeded 
that  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  although  the  total 
value  of  products  was  larger  for  the  latter  class  of 
fisheries. 

In  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  division  dredges  and  tongs, 
lines,  seines,  gill  nets,  and  sponge  apparatus  were  the 
leading  forms  of  apparatus  of  capture.  In  the  Pacific 
coast  fisheries  gill  nets  were  the  most  important,  con- 
tributing 34  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
Nearly  all  the  catch  with  this  apparatus  was  reported 
for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

In  the  Great  Lakes  division  54  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  products  was  taken  with  gill  nets  and  29  per 
cent  with  pound  and  trap  nets.  Nearly  three-fourths 
of  the  gill-net  catch  was  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries, 
while  the  pound  and  trap  net  catch  was  taken  mainly 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

For  the  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its 
tributaries,  the  catch  with  seines  represented  29  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  all  products,  that  with  fyke  and 
hoop  nets  23  per  cent,  and  that  with  dredges,  tongs, 
etc.,  comprising  chiefly  crowfoot  dredges  employed  in 
mussel  fisheries,  22  per  cent. 

Table  5,  on  page  34,  is  a  detailed  presentation  of  the 
products  by  states  and  by  species.  The  quantity  of 
each  species  marketed  by  the  fishermen  in  a  salted  or 
smoked  condition  is  shown  with  the  understanding 
that,  except  when  otherwise  stated,  the  product  is 
fresh.  Table  6,  on  page  44,  gives  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  catch,  by  apparatus  of  capture  and  by 
states. 


26 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— PRODUCTS,  BY  GENERAL  CLASSES:  1908  AND  1900  TO  1904. 


CLASS  AND  8PKCIES. 


Total. 


liab. 


Food  fish.. 
Menhaden. 


Crustaceans. 


Crabs 

Crawfish 

Lobster 

Spiny  lobster 

Snrimp  and  prawn. 
Another 


Uolluslcs. . 


Abalone 

Clams 

Mussel  shells,  pearls  and  slugs  . 

Oysters 

Scallops  and  scallop  rims 

Squid 

All  other 


Sponges 

Whale  products. 


on 

Whalebone. 


Hides,  pelts,  and  sidns. 


Alligator  hides. 
Porpoise  hides. 

Mink  skins 

Muskrat  skins. . 

Otter  skins 

Sealskins 


Frogs 

Terrapin  and  turtles. 
All  other  products 


nSHEET  PRODUCTS. 


1906 


Quantity 

(pounds). 


1,893,454,000 


1,441,317,000 


1,046,641,000 
394,776,000 

96,225,000 


52,913,000 
6(>(i.000 

15,279.000 
573,000 

19,080.000 
7,713,000 

347,799.000 


1,005,000 
16,717,000 
81,869,000 
233,309,000 
2,432,000 
2,562,000 
9,905,000 

622,000 

4,028,000 


3,964,000 
63,000 


602,000 


3?2,00O 
48,000 
22,000 
149,000 
7,600 
3,100 

259,000 
1,457.000 
1,145.000 


Value. 


$.54,031,000 


30,247,000 


29,354,000 
893,000 

3,466,000 


912,000 

34,000 

1,931,000 

69,000 

494,000 

2  26,000 

18,7.52,000 


16.000 

1,896,000 

692,000 

15,713,000 

317,000 

43.000 

< 75,000 

545,000 

497,000 


282.000 
215,000 


325.000 


01.000 
1,000 

89,000 
136,000 

30.000 
8,200 

42.000 
122.000 
35.000 


I90»-19M> 


Quantity 

(pound's). 


1,919.802,000 


l,538,39(i,000 


989,275,000 
549,121,000 


77,813,000 


40,164,000 

503.000 

15,130,000 

1,078,000 
17,695,000 

3,253.000 

290.891,000 


825,000 
19,083,000 
51,856,000 
204,118.000 
1,551,000 
5,922,000 
7,535,000 

347,000 

5,576,000 


5,462.000 
114,000 


353,000 


350,000 


3,, 300 


1.409.000 
5.078.000 


Value. 


«49,398,000 


25,758,000 


24,332,000 
1,426,000 

2,764,000 


906,000 

24.000 

1,382,000 

43.000 

393,000 

8  13,000 

19,385.000 


9,200 

1,820,000 

630,000 

16,681,000 

279,000 

43,000 

'23,000 

364,000 

816,000 


311,000 
505,000 


59,000 


41,000 


(') 
(•) 
(•) 


18,000 

(') 

(•) 
114,000 
136,000 


1  Combined  statistics  for  the  New  England,  South  Atlantic,  and  Gulf  states  for  1902;  Pacific  coaststates  for  1904;  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries.  Middle  Atlantic 
states,  and  the  Great  Lakes  for  1903;  and  minor  interior  waters  for  1900-1903. 

2  Includes  king  crabs,  valued  at  $23,000;  and  spider  and  stone  crabs,  valued  at  $3,700. 
'  Includes  king  crabs,  valued  at  $8,900;  and  shrimp  shells,  valued  at  $4,400. 

•  Includes  surf  clams,  valued  at  $21,000;  cockles,  winkles,  and  conchs,  valued  at  $35,000:  musseis,  valued  at  $12,000:  and  other  shells,  valued  at  $7,100. 

•  Includes  mussels,  valued  at  $8,500;  oyster  and  other  shells,  valued  at  $6,500;  and  cockles,  winkles,  conchs,  etc.,  valued  at  $7,600. 

•  Not  reported  separately. 

Table  2.— PRODUCTS,  BY  SPECIES  AND  BY  GEOGRAPHIC  DIVISIONS:  1908. 


TTNITED  STATES. 

ATLANTIC  COAST 
DIVISION. 

OtTLF  OP  MEXICO 
DIViaON. 

PACIPIC  COAST 
DIVISION. 

MISSISSIPPI  RrVER 

DIVISION. 

GREAT  LAKES 
DIVISION. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

■     Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity        „  , 
(pounds).        ^'""'^■ 

1 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,893.454,000 

$54,031,000 

1,344,666,000 

$35,474,000 

117,723,000 

$4,825,000 

176,150,000 

$6,839,000 

148,284,000 

$3,125,000 

106.632.000 

$3,767,000 

Fish: 
Albacore,  or  horse 
mackerel 

359,000 

80,945,000 

8,840,000 

193,000 

38,000 

220,000 
3,138,000 

112,000 
3,313,000 

209,000 

7,594,000 
52,000 
1,096,000 
4, '38, 000 
16,729,000 

6,865,000 

42,759,000 

4,500 

17,817,000 

123,000 

12,000 

455,000 

130,000 

3,500 

1,600 

1,600 

87,000 

3,500 

255,000 

5,500 

604,000 

1,900 

39,000 

120,000 

498,000 

237,000 

1,135,000 

700 
785,000 

309,000 

80,941.000 

8,840,000 

193,000 

600 

11,000 

455,000 

130,000 

3,500 

(') 

50,000 

800 

4,600 

100 

Alewives,  salted 

Amber-fish,  or 
jack-fish 

Anchovies 

38,000 

1,600 

1 
220,000            l.fiflfl 

1,300 

(>) 

44,000 

3,100 

3,093,000 

112,000 

82,000 

209,000 

84,000 
3,500 
8,200 
5,500 

Barracuda,  salted  . 

Black  bass 

Black  cod 

1,641,000 

105,000 

86,000 

7,200 

1,459,000 

128,000 

45,000 

6,100 

Bluefish,  fresh 

7,029,000 

1,400 

755.000 

1,656,000 

476,000 

100 

32,000 

52,000 

665.000 

61,000 

11,000 

186,000 

1,683,000 

16,000 

2,400 

28,000 

1,900 

900 

8,300 

43,000 

400 
100 

Blueflsh, salted  ... 

Bonito  ...   . 

329,000 

6,100 

Bream  and  sunflsh 

2,821,000 
15,040,000 

58,000 
455,000 

76,000 
6,200 

1,900 
200 

Buflalofish 

Butterflsh 

6,749,000 
1,482,000 

223,000 
79,000 

89,000 
457,000 

13,000 
4,600 

Carp,  German, 
fresh 

30,670,000 

858,000 

10,148,000 

4,500 
963,000 

194,000 
700 

Carp,  German, 
smoked  . 

Catfish 

s.kik.nnn 

132,000 
1.300 

3,984.000 
41.000 

143,000 
1,500 

1,270,000 

65,000 

8,073,000 

395,000 

50,000 

Cobla 

2.800  il             82.000 

>  Less  than  $100. 


PRODUCTS. 

Table  2.— PRODUCTS,  BY  SPECIES  AND  BY  GEOGRAPHIC  DIVISIONS:  1908— Continued. 


27 


UNITED 

STATES. 

ATLA*nC  COAST 
DIVISION. 

OULF  OF  MEXICO 
DIVISION. 

PACmc  COAST 

DIVISION. 

HISaiSSIPPI  RITEB 
DIVISION. 

QBEAT  LAKES 
DIVISION. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Flah— Continued. 
Cod,  fresh 

79,808,000 
30,245,000 

2,794.000 
1,564,000 
8,143,000 

250,000 
199,000 

6,242,000 
103,000 

1,701,000 

6,532,000 

4, 576, 000 

3,358.000 

23,340,000 

1,864,000 

6,000 

389,000 

58,946.000 

1,042,000 

33,815,000 
625,000 

33,785.000 
656.000 

115,563,000 

9,253,000 

234,000 

26,242,000 

11,951,000 

3,925,000 

859,000 

17,000 
202,000 
22,000 
62,000 

229,000 
117,000 
326,000 
639,000 
9,870,000 
2,233,000 

394,771,000 
5,000 
2,200 

161,000 

30,682,000 

3,020,000 

25,000 

417,000 

1,618,000 

2,412,000 

7,898,000 

24,000 

777,000 

2,959,000 

15,247,000 

28,078,000 

1,384,000 

670, 000 

128.000 

5,000 

35, 000 

305,000 

107, 000 

2,445,000 

8,800 

26.000 
20,000 

1.720,000 

90,379.000 

39,000 

4,638,000 
8,414,000 
6,352,000 

115,000 
27,383,000 

258,000 

75,000 

2,637,000 

10,3.16,000 

402,000 

»1, 964. 000 
950,000 

108.000 

28,000 

226,000 

7.000 

7,500 

103,000 

2,200 

22,000 

154,000 
164,000 
203,000 
588,000 

42,000 

300 

19,000 

1,286,000 

22,000 

455,000 

8,900 

1,509,000 

53,000 

658,000 

135.000 

2.900 

730,000 

191,000 

67,000 

37,000 

1,000 

4,300 

800 

900 

5,000 
4,000 
4,500 
16,000 
686,000 
162,000 

893,000 
200 
900 

6,000 

786,000 

122,000 

1,700 

9,600 

49,000 

137,000 
268,000 
1,000 
32,000 
174,000 

680,000 
375.000 
27,000 
71,000 
6,600 
200 

2,800 

2,800 

5,100 

66,000 

300 

600 
500 

39,000 

3,345,000 

1,700 

30,000 

290,000 

284,000 

700 

2,107,000 

6,500 

1,500 
97,000 
93,000 

4,200 

79,808,000 
22,299,000 

204.000 
1,340.000 
7,307,000 

$1,964,000 
732,000 

8,500 
21.000 
185,000 

Cod, salted 

7,948,000 

»218,000 

Crappie  and  straw- 
berry bass 

27,000 
224,000 
778,000 

11,400 

7,700 

40,000 

2,663,000 

»98,000 

(') 

(') 

Crevalle 

Croaker 

58,000 
250,000 

1,800 
7,000 

Caltuscod 

Cunner 

199,000 

6,242.000 

103,000 

152,000 

4,100 

1.548.000 

3.251,000 

15,803,000 

245,000 

7,500 

103,000 

2,200 

2,000 

100 
33,000 
197,000 
416,000 

5,200 

Cusk,  fresh 

Cusk,  salted 

Dogfish,  or  bowflns 

1,449,000 
4,737,000 

19,000 
129,000 

100,000 
1,490,000 

tl,400 
16,000 

Drum,  fresh-water. 

301,000 
3,028,000 

9,100 
131,000 

Drum,  salt-water. . 

Eels 

61,000 

3,900 

46,000 

2,700 

Flounders 

366,000 

1,619,000 

6,000 

384,000 

20,000 

37,000 

300 

19,000 

7, 178, 000 

152,000 

Grouper,  fresh 

Grouper,  salted 

Grunts 

5.200 

68.946.000 

1,042,000 

33,815,000 

525,000 

3,698,000 

650,000 

112,210,000 

9,253,000 

234,000 

100 

1,286,000 

22,000 

455,000 

8,900 

272,000 

53,000 

625,000 

135,000 

2,900 

Haddock,  fresh 

Haddock,  salted... 

Hake,  fresh 

Hake,  salted 

Halibut,  fresh 

30,088,000 

1,236,000 

Halibut,  salted.... 

Herring,  fresh 

3,347,000 

32,000 

Herring,  salted 

Herring,  smoked .. . 

Herring  (lake). 

25,242,000 
11,951,000 
3,925,000 

730,000 
191,000 
67,000 

Herring  (lake), 
salted  . . . 

Herring  (lake)  , 
smoked 

Hickory  shad, 
fresh 

798,000 

17,000 
1,900 

34,000 

1,000 
100 

61,000 

2,900 

Hickory  shad, 
salted . . . 

Jewfisli,  fresh 

60,000 

2,400 

140,000 
22,000 

1,800 
800 

Jewflsh,  salted 

52,000 

229,000 
117,000 

900 

5,000 
4,000 

Ladyfish,  fresh     , . 

Ling,  or  eelpout. . . 
Mackerel,  ciuib 

97,000 

437,000 

9.870.000 

2,233,000 

391,619,000 
6.000 
2,300 

65,000 

12,872,000 
1,974,000 

1,700 

13,000 

686,000 

162,000 

889,000 
200 
900 

1,700 

306,000 
83,000 

300 

(') 

228,000 

2,800 

4,500 

100 

197,000 

3,300 

Mackerel,  fresh . 

Menhaden,  fresh. . . 

3,153,000 

4,000 

Minnows 

1 

Moonfish,      angcl- 
fish,orspadensli. 

95,000 

17,807,000 
1,046,000 

4,200 

480,000 
39,000 

I 

Mullet,  fresh 

3,600 

300 

1 

Mullet,  salted 

1 

Muskallunge 

25,000 

1,700 

Mutton-fish 

376,000 

6,500 

41,000 
80,000 

3,100 
2,200 

Paddlensh 

1,439,000 

47,000 

Perch,  white 

2,412,000 

930,000 

200 

690,000 

145,000 

137,000 
48,000 

m 

27,000 
11,000 

Perch,  yellow 

1,800 
24,000 
87,000 
305,000 

100 

1,000 

4,900 

11,000 

36,000 

1,100       6,930,000 

208,000 

Pigfish.  or  liogHsh  . 

1 

367,000 
133, 000 

16,000       2,142,000 
11,000  1  15,115,000 

136,000 

Pike  perch 

569,000 

Pollack,  fresh 

28,078,000 

1,384,000 

311,000 

375,000 
27,000 
39,000 

Pollack,  salted 

2.59,000 

128,000 

6,000 

35,000 

32,000 

6,600 

200 

2,800 

Porgy,  fresh 

PorkfLsh 

Red(ish,or  rosefish. 

305,000 

2,800 

42,000 

2,800 

65,000 

2,300 

2,446,000 
8,800 

65,000 
300 

Rockfish,  salted 

Round  robin 

26,000 

sec 

Sacramento  pike. . . 
Sailor's  choice,  or 
pinfish 

20,000 

500 

1,579,000 
19,000 

31,000 
3,700 

141,000 

8,300 

90,360.000 
39,000 

4,638,000 

3,341,000 
1,700 

30,000 

Salmon,  salted 

Sardines 

8,414,000 
6,309,000 

115,000 
25,679,000 

258,000 

75.000 

1,513.000 

-10,304,000 

278,000 

290,000 

282,000 

700 

2,086,000 

6,500 

1,500 
42.000 
93,000 

3,200 

43,000 

1,500 

3,600 

200 

1,700,000 

22,000 

Sbad,  salted 

Shark 

Sheep.shead 

1,124,000 

55,000 

100 

(») 

32,000 
124,000 

300 
1,000 

Skates 

J  Less  than  100  pounds. 


•  Less  than  SIOO. 


28 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— PRODUCTS,  BY  SPECIES  AND  BY  GEOGRAPHIC  DIVISIONS:  1908— Continued. 


UNITED  STATES. 

ATLANTIC  COAST 

mVLSION. 

GUU  OP  MEXICO 
DIVISION. 

• 

PACIFIC  COAST 
DIVISION. 

MISSISSIPPI  KIVEB 

DIVISION. 

OHEAT  LAKES 
DIVISION. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Fish— Continued. 

4,340,000 

13,498,000 

366,000 

3,705,000 

101,000 

1,824,000 

49,800,000 

68,000 

3,057,000 

2,070.000 

2,500 

8,199,000 
356,000 

885,000 
2,714,000 

995,000 

289,000 

18,000 

11,671,000 

353,000 

265,000 

7,366,000 

342,000 

15,000 

1,614,000 
253,000 

4,523,000 
217,000 

259,000 

42,612,000 

10,301,000 

7,643,000 

7,200 

62,000 

614,000 
15,279,000 

626,000 
19,080,000 

1,005,000 

7,805,000 

8,654.000 

259,000 

266,000 

103,641,000 
74,652,000 
26,960,000 
28,056,000 

2,432,000 

146,000 

8,642,000 

81,869,000 

952,000 

$174,000 

636,000 

15,000 

190,000 

3,500 

46,000 

1,774,000 

2,900 

314,000 

157,000 

500 

208.000 
6,700 

21,000 
198,000 

37,000 

9,100 

6,300 

781,000 

19,000 

13,000 

.507,000 

17,000 

1,300 

78,000 
18,000 
86,000 
95,000 

42,000 
553,000 
359,000 

23,000 

(>) 
3,700 

32,000 

1,931,000 

71,000 

494,000 

16,000 

1,317,000 

553,000 

25,000 

21,000 

4,416,000 
8,306,000 
1,035,000 
1,957,000 

317,000 

35,000 

12,000 

392,000 

8,400 
300,000 
43,000 
80,000 
40,000 

545,000 

61,000 

1,000 

89,000 

136,000 

30,000 

8,200 

215,000 

7,400 

4,000 

100 

9,500 

3,000 

3,600 

400 

252,000 

.30,000 

26,000 

1,700 

695,000 
952,000 
124,000 

1,970,000 

J72,000 

33,000 

2,500 

112,000 

3,645,000 

$103,000 

Snapper,  red 

Snapper,  other 

Spanish  mackerel, 
fT-esh 

12,646,000 
232,000 

1,408,000 

78,000 

203,000 

4,036,000 

64,000 

$603,000 
13,000 

73,000 

2,800 

4,600 

228,000 

2,200 

,327,000 
23,000 

4.600 
700 

Spanish  mackerel, 
salted 

Spot 

1,622,000 

44,427,000 

14,000 

1,881,000 

649,000 

42,000 

1,504,000 

600 

180,000 

69,000 

Squet€»gue,  fresh.. 

Squeteague,  salted. 

Striped  bass 

Sturgeon,  fresh 

Sturgeon,  smoked. 

1,337,000 

42,000 

1,770,0(10 
309,000 

136,000 
13,000 

7,200 

700 

845,000 

$39,000 

259,000 
2,500 

6,902,000 
,350,000 

$35,000 
500 

406,000 

20,000 

892,000 

28,000 

160,000 

Suckers,  sal  ted 

Surf-fish,  or  vivii>- 

arous  perch 

Swordflsh 

6,700 

885,000 
7,800 

21,000 
200 

2,706,000 

995,000 
239,000 

198,000 

37.000 
7,500 

60,000 

1,600 

18,000 

11,671.000 

353,000 

224,000 

7,.366,000 

342,000 

15,000 

6,300 

Trout  (lake),  fresh. 
Trout(lake),salted. 

W'hite  ba.ss 

781,000 

19,000 

41.000 

1,800 

11,000 

607,000 

Whitefish  salted 

17,000 

Whitefish,  smoked. 
Whitiilg  and  king- 

1,300 

1,553,000 

18,000 

987.000 

44,000 

U,000 

37,460,000 

10,176,000 

7,643,000 

7,200 

76,000 

600 

20,000 

53,000 

2,800 
398,000 
332,000 

23,000 

0) 

61,000 
236,000 
443,000 
136, 0(X) 

38,000 

1,071,000 

126,000 

2,400 
18,000 
20,000 
16,000 

4,500 
29,000 
27,000 

Yellowtail 

All  other 

2,382,000 

45,000 

9,600 
25,000 

193,000 

800 
17,000 

31,000 

14,000 
12.000 

17,000 

600 

Oflviar 

8,600 

Frogs 

3,100 

4,081,000 

127,000 

Crabs  soft 

Crabs,  spider 

62,000 
79,000 

3,700 
2,000 

Crawfish 

178,000 

14,000 

9,400 

1,600 

348,000 

14,000 

15,279,000 

1,931,000 

Spiny  lobster 

Shrimp  and  prawn. . 

53,000 
12,561,000 

2,600 
271,000 

573,000 
504,000 

1,006,000 
287,000 
497,000 
234,000 

69,000 
53,000 

16,000 

17,000 

7,300 

22,000 

5,708,000 

142,000 

306,000 

28,000 

7,336,000 

8,1.56,000 

24,000 

266,000 

72,413,000 
64,642,000 
22,436,000 
27,252,000 

2,432,000 

131,900 
8,474,000 
6,403,000 

1,294,000 

546,000 

3.600 

21,000 

3,303,000 

7,239,000 

948,000 

1,944,000 

317,000 

34,000 
10,000 
5,400 

182,000 

5,800 

Oysters,  market, 

from  public  areas.. 
Oysters,  market, 

from  private  areas. 
OysterS!.  seed,  from 

public  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from 

prrvate  areas 

Scallops  and  scallop 

31,225,000 

7,956,000 

4,522,000 

700,000 

400 
15,000 

1,112,000 

381,000 

87,000 

6,200 

100 
1,100 

2,300 

2,055,000 

1,800 

104,000 

800 

686,000 

200 

6,500 

Cockles,  winkles,  and 

Mussels 

68,000 

1,600 

Mussel  shells 

76,266,000 

386,000 

200,000 

800 

300 

1,300 

951,000 

7,100 

Pearls  and  slues 

300,000 

Squid        ..  . 

2,562,000 

368,000 

1,088,000 

622,000 

372,000 

48,000 

22,000 

149,000 

7,600 
3,100 

63,000 
657,000 

93,000 
2,800 

221,000 

29,000 

88,000 

4,000 

3,391,000 
573,000 
772,000 
252,000 

2,452,000 
92,000 
148,000 

38,000 
42,000 
6,800 

110,000 

4,400 

Terrapin 

68,000 
378,000 

622,000 
253,000 

25,000 
20,000 

545,000 
40,000 

207,000 
506,000 

13,000 
12,000 

Turtles 

38,000 

1,300 

18,000 

900 

Rnonees 

Hides,  alligator 

Hides,  porpoise 

119,000 

48,000 

100 

64,000 

3,700 
3,100 

31,000 
6.57,000 

93,000 
2,800 

221,000 
29,000 
88,000 
4,000 

3.222,000 
560,000 
772,000 
252,000 

21,000 

1,000 

500 

77,000 

15,000 
8,200 

97,000 

7,400 

4,000 

100 

9,500 

3,000 

3,600 

400 

240,000 

29,000 

26,000 

1,700 

20,000 
40,000 

3,900 

77,000 
16,000 

15,000 

2,600 
30,000 

m 

11,000 
29,000 

100 

100 
14,000 

400 

14,000 

Skins,  seal 

Whalebone 

32,000 

119,000 

Livers 

Sounds,  salted 

Oil,  fish 

OH,  porpoise 

Oil,  sea^elephant 

Oil,  seal...... 

on, sperm 

169,000 
13,000 

12,000 
900 

Oil,  whale  .  .  . 

Sea  grass. 

1  Less  than  $100. 


'  Less  than  100  pounds. 


PRODUCTS.  •  29 

Table  3.— PRODUCTS,  BY  CLASS  OF  FISHERIES,  APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE,  AND  GEOGRAPHIC  DIVISIONS:  1908. 


CLASS  OF  FISHERIES  AND  KIND 
OF  APPAEATU3. 


UNITED  STATES. 


All  fisheries. 


1,893,454,000 


Beam  trawls 

Dredges,  loags,  rakes,  etc. . . 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Lines  (hand,  trawl,  and  set). 

Nets: 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

GUI  nets 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 

and  weirs 

Seines 

Trammel  nets 

All  other  (cast  nets,  dip 

nets,  lift  nets,  etc.)... 


Pots,  traps,  etc 

Sponge  apparatus . . . 
Whaling  apparatus. 
Wheels  and  slides . . . 
Minor  apparatus 


Vessel  fisheries. 


Beam  trawls 

Dredges,  tougs,  rakes,  etc 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Lines  (hand,  trawl,  and  set) . 


Nets: 


Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

(iill  nets 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and 

weirs 

Seines 

Trammel  nets 

All  other    (cast   nets,  dip 

nets,  hft  nets,  etc.) 


Pots,  traps,  etc 

Sponge  apparatus... 
Whaling  apparatus. 
Minor  apparal  us. . , . 


Khore  and  boat  fisheries. 


Beam  trawls 

Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  etc 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Lines  (hand,  trawl,  and  set). . . 


Nets: 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Gill  nets 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and 

weirs , 

Seines 

Trammel  nets 

All   other   (cast  nets,    dip 

nets,  lift  nets,  etc.) 


Pots,  traps,  etc 

Sponge  apparatus. 
Wheels  and  slides. 
Minor  apparatus. . . 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


3,752,000  90,000 

35(j,990,000  18,772,000 

3,969,000  294,000 

343,772,000  9,356,000 


Value. 


164,031,000 


ATLANTIC  COAST 
DIVISION. 


1,344,666,000 


38,050,000 
181,224,000 

314.031,000 

573,593,000 

15.708,000 

23,582,000 

23,979,000 

622,000 

3,710.000 

1,958.000 

8,515,000 


890,914.000 


2.867,000 
122,432,000 

3,039,000 
245,838,000 


1.793,000 
62.980,000 

26.184,000 

429,521,000 

1,027,000 

4,859,000 

1,884,000 
487,000 

3,710,000 
295,000 


1,218,000 
7,536,000 

5,641,000 

6,002,000 

4S6.000 

553,000 

2,589,000 
545.  IXX) 
468,000 
100,000 
380,000 


22,232,000 


70,000i 

9,002.000 

228,000 

6,983,000 


42,000 
1.974.000 

374.000 

2,304,000 

30.000 

93,000 

211,000 

436,000 

468,000 

16,000 


996,540,000  31,798,000 


36,257,000 
128,243,000 

287,847,000 

144,071,000 

14,681,000 

18,723,000 

22,094,000 

136,000 

1,958,000 

8,220,000 


1,175,000 
5,661,000 

5,266.000 

3,698,000 

456,000 

460,000 

2,378,000 
109.000 
100,000 
364,000 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$35,474,000 


3,736,000 
233,957.000 

3.426,000 
270,230,000 


6,043,000 
50.816,000 

244,571,000 

482,587.000 

12,000 

16,056,000 

18,275,000 


3,495.000 

123,000 

5,340,000 


709.476,000 


2,852,000 
107,393,000 

3,023,000 
192,718,000 


1,013,000 
18,019,000 

25,602.000 

413,177,000 

500 

129,000 

1,761,000 


3,495,000 
294,000 

675,190,000 


884,000 

126,564,000 

403,000 

77,512,000 


5,030.000 
38,797,000 

218,9C)9,000 

69,410,000 

11,000 

15,928,000 

16,514,000 


Value. 


GULF  OF  MEXICO 
DIVISION. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


PACIFIC  COAST 
DIVISION. 


Value. 


117,695, 000  »4, 826, 000 


89,000 

15,804,000 

258,000 

6,316,000 

210,000 
2,596,000 

3,563,000 

3,525,000 

1,200 

371,000 

2,185,000 


336,000 

1,900 

218,000 


I7,00(i,000 


69,000 

8,440,000 

227,000 

4,822,000 


23,000 
499,000 

341,000 
2,023,000 
(') 

5,400 
204,000 


336,000 
16,000 


18,468,000 


123,000 
5,046,000 


20.000 
7,364,000 

31,000 
1,494,000 


187,000 
2,097,000 

3,222.000 

1,502.000 

1,000 

365,000 

1,981,000 


1,900 
202,000 


44,400,000 

134,000 

20,259,000 


551,000 
16,018,000 

295,000 

28,893,000 

4,998,000 

632,000 

220,000 
622,000 


14,663,000 

16,000 

13,769,000 


7,402,000 
978,000 


487,000 


80,098,000 


29,738,000 

118,000 

6,500,000 


551,000 
15,725,000 

295,000 

21.491,000 

4,020,000 

632,000 

220.000 
136,000 


1,586,000 

7,500 

907,000 


21,000 
568,000 

18,000 
812,000 
149,000 

28,000 

116,000 
645,000 


1,682,000 


459,000 

900 

623,000 


120,000 
29,000 


436,000 


3,142,000 


673,000 


1,127,000 

0,600 

284,000 


21,000 
552,000 

18,000 
692,000 
120,000 


116,000 
109,000 


68,000 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


MISSISSIPPI  RrvEB 
DIVISION. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$6.839,000148,311,000 


{3,126,000 


15,000 
2,211,000 


43,204,000 


1,419,000 
57.538,000 

29,213,000 

24,811,000 

1,951,000 

6,639,000 

4,808,000 


214,000 
1,836,000 
2,291,000 


50,788,000 


15,000 
377,000 


38,530,000 


86,000 


6,818,000 
15,000 

4,718,000 

15,000 


214,000 


125,382,000 


1,835,000 


4,673,000 


1,419, 

57,452, 

29,213. 

17,994, 

1,936, 

1,921, 

4,793, 


000 


1,836 
2,291 


1,100 
697,000 


71, 
2,313, 

887, 
601. 
62, 

133, 

208, 


132. 

98, 
67, 


1,912,000 


1, 
104, 


1,408,000 


6,700 


111,000 
40« 


87,000 
1,900 


4,928,000 


693,000 


113,000 

71,000 
2,306,000 

887.000 
491,000 
51,000 

46,000 

206,000 


000         98,000 
000         67,000 


76,222,000 

298,000 

7,712,000 


23, 


271,000 
252,000 

:,  097, 000 
1,071,000 
;,  092, 000 

177,000 

323,000 


197,000 


2,484,000 


439,000 


2,012,000 
33,000 


600 
145,827,000 


Value. 


106,632,000 


686,000 

13,000 

358,000 


713,000 
10,000 

77,000 
895,000 
271,000 

17,000 

61,000 


24,000 


61,000 


13,000 


47,000 
1,000 


(') 
3,064,000 


I 


76,222,000 

298,000 

7,712,000 

I 

22,832,000 
252,000 

2,697,000 

27,0(50,000 

8,059,000 

177,000 

323,000 


686,000 

13,000 

358,000 

700,000 
10,000 

77,000 
847,000 
270,000 

17,000 

61,000 


24,000 


GREAT  LAKES 
DIVLSION. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


13,767,000 


200,000  800 

112,000         16,000 
2,367,000       194,000 


6,768,000 
50,600,000 

37,255,000 

8,230,000 

655,000 

78,000 

353,000 


14,000 


36,569,000 


828,000 


341,000 
34,582,000 


582,000 
114,000 


12,000 
109,000 


203,000 
2,049,000 

1,097,000 
169,000 
13,000 

4,300 

19,000 


2,700 


1,571,000 


69,000 


6,800 
1,463,000 

33,000 
2,700 


soo 

4,700 


70,063,000  2,1%,000 


200,000  800 

112,000         16,000 

1,639,000      126,000 


6,426,000 
16,018,000 

36,673,000 

8,117,000 

665,000 

66,000 

244,000 


14,000 


196,000 
695,000 

1,063,000 
166,000 
13,000 

3,300 

14,000 


2,700 


>  Less  than  slOO. 


30 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  4. -PRO DUCTS,  BY  SPECIES  AND 


Total. 


Fish: 


Albacore,  or  horse  mackerel . 

Alewives 

Amber-fish  (jackfish) 

Anchovies 

Barracuda 


Black  bass 

Black  cod 

Blueflsh 

Bonito 

Bream  and  sunflsh. 


Buflaloflsh 

ButterQsh 

Carp,  German. 

Cattish 

Cobia 


Cod 

Crappie  and  strawberry  bass. 

Cievall6 

Croaker 

Cultus  cod 


Cunner 

Cusk 

Dogfish,  or  bowfins. 
Drum,  fresh- water. , 
Drum,  salt-water. . . 


Eels 

Flounders. 
Grouper. . . 

Grunts 

Haddock. , 


Hake 

Halibut 

Herring 

Herring  (lake) . 
Hickory  shad.. 


Jewfish 

Jurel 

Ladytish 

Ling,  or  eelpout. 
Mackerel,  chub.. 


Mackerel 

Menhaden 

Minnows 

Moonfish,  angel-fish,  or  spadeflsh 
Mullet 


Muskallunge.. 
Mutton-fish . . . 

Paddleflsh 

Perch,  white.. 
Perch,  yellow. 


Permit , 

Ptgflsh,  or  hogfish  . 
Pike  and  pickerel . . 

Pike  perch 

Pollack 


Pompano 

Porgy 

Porkflsh 

Redflsh,  or  roseflsh  . 
Rock  bass 


Rockflsh 

Round  robin 

Sacramento  pike 

Sailor's  choice,  or  pinfish  . 
Salmon 


Sardines. . 

Scup 

Sea  oass . . 
Sea  robin . 
Shad 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,893,454,000 


$54,031,000 


359,000 

89,978,000 

38,000 

220,000 

3,250,000 

3,313,000 
209,000 
7,647,000 
1,096,000 
4,738,000 

16,729,000 
6,855,000 
42,763,000 
17,817,000 
123,000 

110,054,000 

2,794,000 

1,564,000 

8,143,000 

250,000 

199,000 
6,344,000 
1,701,000 
6,532,000 
4,576,000 

3,358,000 
23,346,000 

1,870,000 

389,000 

59,987,000 

34,340,000 

34,441,000 

125,050,000 

41,118,000 

876,000 

223,000 
62,000 
346,000 
326,000 
639,000 

12,103,000 

394,776,000 

2,200 

161,000 

33,703,000 

25,000 

417,000 

1,518,000 

2,412,000 

7,898,000 

24,000 

777,000 

2,959,000 

15,247,000 

29,462,000 

570,000 
133,000 
35,000 
305,000 
107,000 

2,454,000 
26,000 
20,000 

1,720,000 
90,417,000 

4,638,000 
8,414,000 
6,352.000 
115,000 
27,641,000 


Value. 


12,000 

589,000 

1,600 

1,600 

91,000 

255,000 
5,500 
506,000 
39,000 
120,000 

498,000 

237,000 

1,135,000 

785,000 

2,800 

2,914,000 

108,000 

28,000 

226,000 

7,000 

7,500 
105,000 
22,000 
154,000 
104,000 

203,000 

688,000 

42,000 

19,000 

1,308,000 

464,000 
1,562,000 
796,000 
989,000 
38,000 

6,100 
900 
9,000 
4,500 
16,000 

848,000 

893,000 

900 

6,000 

908,000 

1,700 

9,600 

49,000 

137,000 

258,000 

1,000 
32,000 
174,000 
580,000 
402,000 

71,000 
6,900 
2,800 
2,800 
5,100 

66,000 
500 
500 

39,000 
3,347,000 

30,000 

290,000 

284,000 

700 

2,113,000 


343,960,000 


CAUGHT  BY- 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


18,000 

400 

38,000 


591,000 

1,264,000 
209,000 

3,781,000 
317,000 
175,000 

812,000 

17,000 

1,062,000 

7,012,000 

100 

104,563,000 

372,000 

1,269,000 

934,000 

211,000 

600 

6,344,000 

29,000 

812,000 

631,000 

161,000 
4,017,000 
1,779,000 

281,000 
67,973,000 

33,633,000 
34,433,000 


12,000 
17,000 

171,000 
8,800 


96,000 
7,000 

173,000 
100 


1,700 
35,000 

19,000 
61,000 
22,000 
62,000 
212,000 

2,000 

161,000 

232,000 

270,000 

20,164,000 

13,000 
110,000 

15,000 
302,000 

30,000 

2,255,000 


105,000 
301,000 


634,000 
6,560,000 


2,100 


$9,360,000 


200 
(') 
1,600 


16,000 

92,000 

6,500 

307,000 

13,000 
7,100 

23,000 
800 
35,000 
290,000 
(') 

2,787,000 

21,000 

20,000 

32,000 

5,900 

m 

105,000 

500 

29,000 

26,000 

8,800 

91,000 

38,000 

14,000 

1,260,000 

458,000 
1,561,000 


600 
800 


4,000 
400 


1,800 
200 

8,300 


100 
2,000 

1,200 
3,900 
900 
3,200 
9,000 

100 

8,200 

16,000 

23,000 

309,000 

1,800 
5,700 
1,200 
2,700 
2,000 

68,000 


Gill  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


32,000 
2,211,000 


65,000 
2,644,000 


64,000 


2,029,000 

293,000 

28,000 

131,000 

184,000 

894,000 

215,000 

52,000 

2,091,000 

2,800 

81,000 

428,000 

400 


3,300 

29,000 

622,000 

6,600 

820,000 

74,000 

86,000 

180,000 

44,000 


11,302,000 

24,726,000 

267,000 

35,000 


1,400 
91,000 
173,000 

2,809,000 
1,983,000 


6,000 
11,000 


23,000 
244,000 


lOO 


39,000 
22,743,000 

200 

52,000 

22,000 

310,000 

2,401,000 

8,800 

129,000 

144,000 

8,057,000 

591,000 

377,000 

16,000 

16,000 

3,200 

200 

59,000 


20,000 

369,000 

46,219,000 

86,000 

14,000 

46,000 

1,300 

15,586,000 


Value. 


17,536,000 


573,405,000 


600 
20,000 


400 
74,000 


5,900 


109,000 
5,600 
1,300 

5,600 
8,000 
25,000 
11,000 
1,500 

■47,000 

100 

2,600 

9,600 

m 


m 

600 
18,000 

600 

20,000 

3,500 

4,400 

4,100 

500 


218,000 

721,000 

10,000 

700 


100 
1,000 
3,100 

189,000 
3,300 


1,800 
593,000 

m 

800 

700 

20,000 

90,000 

300 

4,300 

9,800 

277,000 

6,900 

49,000 
900 
1,300 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


500 
18,928,000 


165,000 
600 

1,288,000 


1,221,000 

9,300 

2,524,000 

7,138,000 

204,000 

24,162,000 

3,795,000 

71,000 

1,592,000 

1,132,000 

105,000 

1,421,000 


1,000 


817,000 

889,000 

2,062,000 

318,000 

1,645,000 

9,300 

12,000 

1,437,000 

70,000 

9,000 

33,988,000 

8,000 

278,000 

10,000 
32,000 

320,000 
500 

290,000 

8,174,000 

371,630,000 

2,200 

39,000 

7,444,000 

800 
288,000 
894,000 
915,000 
610,000 

6,700 

432,000 

587,000 

155,000 

6,812,000 

144,000 
4,600 


8 


1,200 


600 

11,000 

1,941,000 

400 

400 

2,100 

0) 

1,284,000 


200 
15,000 

77,000 
22,000 


1,017,000 
13,290,000 

4,552,000 

1,836,000 

352,000 

1,000 

2,552,000 


Value. 


$6,999,000 


314,031,000 


166,000 


1,200 


54,000 

400 

67,000 

218,000 

14,000 

611,000 

151,000 

1,300 

33,000 
42,000 
3,200 
48,000 


100 


10,000 
24,000 
96,000 

12,000 

43,000 

400 

500 

33,000 

1,100 

900 

198,000 

200 

12,000 

400 

400 

8,400 

6,900 

608,000 

822,000 

900 

1,500 

235,000 

100 

4,300 

30,000 

52,000 

26,000 

200 
12,000 
27,000 
13,000 
61,000 

16,000 
100 


Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


309,000 

66,369,000 

100 


77,000 


634,000 
474,000 
197,000 

828,000 
6,439,000 
1,224,000 
1,605,000 


1,813,000 
78,000 
80,000 

5,071,000 


2,300 


67,000 

2,326,000 

165,000 

214,000 

4,369,000 

7,500 

10,000 

398,000 

593,000 


$5,641,000 


72,868,000 

16,319,000 

237,000 


102,000 
169,000 

943,000 
21,138,000 


^•^800 

3,500 
400 


17,000 
415,000 

30,000 
58,000 
13,000 
(») 
172,000 


61,000 
88,000 

100 


16,000 

751,000 

2,502,000 


63,000 
l,3m,000 
6,286,000 
1,893,000 

24,000 
2,600 
3,900 


15,000 


130,000 
28,744,000 


6,926.000 
392,000 
113.000 

8,993,000 


>  Includes  bag  nets,  bow  nets,  cast  nets,  cockle  nets  and  traps,  crab  nets,  cunner  nets  and  traps,  dip  nets,  paranzella  nets,  shrimp  nets,  stop  nets,  turtle  nets,  wheels 
SDd  slides,  and  beam  trawls. 


PRODUCTS. 


31 


BY  APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 


CAUOHT  BT— (continued.) 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

All  other  nets.' 

Pots,  traps,  etc. 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

All  other  apparatus. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) 

Value. 

1 

38,050,000 

Jl, 218, 000 

15,708,000 

$486,000 

23,582,000 

$553,000 

23,979,000 

$2,589,000 

7,679,000 

$762,000 

356,990,000 

$18,772,000 

14,848,000 

$1,115,000 

2 

S 

363,000 

4,700 

1,990,000 

25,000 

116,000 

1  100 

4 

500 

C») 

A 

A 

14,000 
3,700 

1,000 
300 

7 

210,000 

19,000 

205,000 

18,000 

1,500 

lOO 

200,000 

11,000 

K 

» 

21,000 

2,500 

1,296,000 

6,502,000 

4,500 

10,067,000 

4,445,000 

1,100 

200 

25,000 

179,000 

100 

286,000 

219,000 

61,000 

2,700 

in 

11 

301,000 
1,260,000 

6,300 
41,000 

8,400 

500 

7,200 

115,000 

24,000 

100 

300 

(') 

400 
6,000 

900 
(■) 

200,000 
12,000 

6,000 
700 

8,000 
45,000 

200 
1,100 

12 

13 

14 

5,154,000 
653,000 

141,000 
32,000 

23,000 
16.3,000 

1,000 
12,000 

58,000 
4,200 

1,500 
200 

2,000 
1,400 

Ifi 

(') 

IR 

17 

1,000 
931,000 

100 
32,000 

2,500 
100 

100 

18 

275,000 
28,000 
157,000 

9,900 

600 

3,400 

100 

m 

2,400 

100 

(J) 

19 

M 

111,000 

2,900 

21,000 
38,000 

191,000 

700 
1,100 

7,100 

7\ 

W. 

4,000 

200 

?.1 

?4 

608,000 

2,196.000 

3,600 

178,000 
2,955,000 

7,700 

58,000 

100 

12,000 
75,000 

171,000 
245,000 
441.000 

12,000 
1,990,000 

2,400 

7,400 

20,000 

700 
,    54,000 

4,000 

2,200 

50,000 

14,000 
3,638,000 

100 

100 

2,100 

800 
68,000 

500 
32,000 

(») 
1,900 

200 

{') 

1,300 

W 

2S 

iK 

1,500 

257,000 
185,000 

(') 

20,000 
8,800 

27 

2,178,000 
20,000 

135,000 
400 

19,000 

1,400 

3,709,000 

(') 

89,000 

29 

in 

11 

TO 

500 

(■) 

IS 

M 

14,000 
51.000 
27,000 

100 

70O 

1,300 

6,878,666 
3,100 
9,600 

45,000 
20O 
600 

V> 

(') 

(=) 

V> 

20,000 

800 

700 

(») 

?7 

7.500 

12,000 

24.000 

100 

100 
100 
500 

18 

19 

tn 

35,000 

500 

500 

(') 

1 

t? 

2,800 
17,000 

200 
200 

500 

(') 

w 

1,500 

m 

14 

15 

12,000 
2,932,000 

300 
60,000 

200 
446,000 

(') 
13,000 

7,700 

SOO 

.... 

tfi 

16,000 
1,100 

600 
100 



17 

3,600 

300 

18 

16,000 

600 

19 

495,000 

378.000 

2,230,000 

14,000 
22,000 
56,000 

63,000 

2,300 

7,100 

366 

in 

4,600 
35,000 

200 
2,200 

500 

(») 

i1 

200 

(•) 

8,100 
7,000 

400 
300 

■■0. 

)!l 

100 
631.000 
420,000 

(•) 

44,000 

15,000 

300 
17,000 
19,000 

(») 

1,000 

1,500 

1,600 
300 

100 
(') 

'' 

vt 

3,000 

100 

41,000 
40,000 

1,400 
3,800 

(?) 

(1) 

<5 

<n 

1,000 

(•) 

7 

200 

(') 

12,000 

1,100 

)8 

)9 

lO 

1 

46,000 

1,700 

600 

m 

1? 

63,000 

2,400 

» 

3,000 

100 

(4 

v*) 

100 
39,000 

<?,200 

13,000 

400 

85,000 
1,600 

3,400 
300 

lA 

1,823,000 

97,000 

7 

t8 

4,200 
11,000 

300 
400 

■9 

800 

(•) 

1,100 

100 

n 

1 

129,666 

9,200 

379,666 

29,666 

1,200 

200 

«  Less  than  $100. 


'Less  than  100  pounds. 


32 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  19US. 

Table  4.— PRODUCTS,  BY  SPECIES  AND  BY 


SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

CAUGHT   BY— 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1 

Fish— Continued. 

75,000 

2,637.000 

10,336,000 

402,000 

4,340,000 

13,498,000 

.356,000 

3,806,000 

1,824,000 

49,809,000 

3,657,000 
2,072,000 
8,555,000 
886,000 
2,714,000 

996,000 

289,000 

18,000 

12,024,000 

265,000 

7,722,000 
1,614,000 

253,000 
3,736,000 

217,000 

259,000 

42,612,000 

10,301,000 

7,043,000 

7,200 

62,000 

614,000 
15,279,000 

626,000 
19,080.000 

1,005,000 

7,805,000 

8,654,000 

259,000 

205,000 

103,041,000 
74,662,000 
26,900.000 
28,056.000 
2,432,000 

146,000 

8,642,000 

81,809,000 

952,000 

$1,600 
97,000 
93,000 
4,200 
174,000 

630,000 

15,000 

194,000 

46,000 

1,776,000 

314,000 
167,000 
216,000 
21.000 
198,000 

37,000 

9,100 

6,300 

800,000 

13,000 

524,000 
78,000 
18,000 
86,000 
96.000 

42,000 
653,000 
359,000 

23,000 

(') 
3,700 

32.000 

1,931,000 

71,000 

494,000 

16,000 

1,317,000 

553,000 

26,000 

21,000 

4,416,000 
8,306,000 
1,035,000 
1,967,000 
317,000 

35.000 
12,000 

392,000 
8,400 

300,000 

43.000 
80.000 
40.000 
645.000 
61,000 

1,000 
89,000 
136,000 
30,000 

8,200 

215,000 
7,400 
4,100 
9,600 
3,000 

3,600 

400 

252,000 

30,000 

26.000 

1.700 

72,000 

186,000 
974,000 
131,000 
102,000 

13,498,000 

70,000 

367,000 

112,000 

2,038,000 

59,000 
187,000 

26,000 
4,100 
7,800 

6.30,000 

36,000 

18,000 

1,496,000 

13,000 

6,600 

429,000 

88,000 

1,864,000 

5,500 

$1,400 

12,000 

9,100 

900 

12,000 

636,000 
4,400 

16,000 
5,000 

94,000 

6.100 
17,000 

1,600 
100 
200 

20,000 

1,000 

6,300 

113,000 

800 

400 
29,000 

7,800 
41,000 

4,400 

2,200 

92,000 

9,088,000 

104,000 

118,000 

(') 
$5,600 

? 

611,000 

280,000 

6,400 

653,000 

$18,000 

3,600 

100 

38,000 

1.501,000 

4.300 

12,000 

2.370,000 

$53,000 

100 
78,000 

t 

Silver  hake 

80,000 
2,100 

4 

Skat«s 

^ 

Smelt                

15,000 

n 

7 

180,000 
1,747,000 

333, 000 
6,006,000 

2.053,000 
775.000 
702,000 
85,000 

7,500 

89.000 

9.200 

249,000 

164,000 
09,000 
21,000 
2,100 

76.000 

1,273,000 

808,000 

16,573,000 

654,000 
327,000 
045,000 
796,000 

1,900 

56.000 

18,000 

681,000 

52,000 
18,000 
20,000 
19,000 

5.800 

.370,000 

431.000 

24,135,000 

718,000 

344,000 

4,577,000 

500 

8 

Spanish  mackerel 

29,000 

9 

Spot 

11,000 

in 

807,000 

11 

65,000 

1? 

Sturgeon                           -.  .      

32,000 

n 

96,000 

14 

Suri-flsh,  or  viviparous  perch 

Swordfish 

l"! 

in 

4,800 
2,000 

200 
100 

35.000 

31,000 

1,400 
800 

408.000 
41,000 

14,000 

17 

Tomcod 

800 

18 

19 

9,460,000 
1,400 

4,927,000 
657,000 
.W.OOO 
490,000 
125,000 

610,000 
100 

315,000 

21,000 

5,500 

16,000 

55,000 

l.fiOO 
8,400 

13,000 
477,000 

98,000 
597,000 

(33,000 

100 
400 

800 

17,000 

4,200 

15,000 

18,000 

1,057,000 
152,000 

2,730,000 

127,000 

8,000 

67,000 

12,000 

77,000 

w 

White  bass           .          ... 

7,300 

m 

Whlteflsh 

204,000 

w, 

Whiting  and  liingflsh 

9,800 

n 

Yellowtail     

800 

•>A 

All  other 

1,000 

n 

Caviar 

11,000 

K 

Frogs 

V 

26,646,000 
105,000 

287,000 
11,000 

6,600 
700 

200 
(') 

244,000 
113,000 
680,000 

5,  ,300 

16,000 

700 

218,000 

1,400 

?s 

Crabs,  soft 

79 

Crabs,  king 

4,639,000 

7,200 

900 

18,000 

30 

(•) 

81 

Crabs,  stone       

40,000 
1,800 

2,600 
100 

6,800 

400 

100 

1? 

Crawfish        

500 

(') 

33 

500 
13,000 

100 
600 

6,900 
1.800 
1,000 

900 

34 

Spiny  lobster 

100 

36 

(') 

(') 

17,194,000 

.385,000 

200 

36 

■" 

37 

Clams,  hard 

38 

39 

Clams,  razor 

40 

Clams,  surf 



41 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas... 
Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas.. 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private  areas 

Scallops  and  scallop  rims 

' 

■■ 

4? 

43 

44 

4*) 

4A 

Cockles,  winkles,  and  conchs 

47 

48 

Mussel  shells 

49 

Other  shells 

300 

1,366 

.■in 

Pearls  and  slugs 

51 

Squid         

2,562,000 
368,000 

1,088,000 
622,000 
372,000 

48,000 

22,000 

149,000 

7,600 

3,100 

63,000 
657,000 

96,000 
221,000 

29,000 

88,000 
4,000 
3,391,000 
673,000 
772.000 
252.000 

121,000 

2,200 

2,000 

6,800 

128,000 

100 
2,700 
11,000 

120.000 
109,000 
281,000 

4,600 
43,000 
7,600 

2,293,000 
3,300 
41,000 

36,000 

52 

2,200 

53 

Turtles 

47,000 

2,100 

700 

M 

Sponges 

S,") 

Hides,  alligator 

(=) 
48,000 

(») 
1,000 

56 

• 

17 

Skins,  minK 

.W 

■» 

Skins,  otter     

60 

Skins,  seal 

(?) 

(') 

61 

fi'' 

663,000 
96.000 
221,000 

7,. 300 
4,100 
9,600 

4,000 

(') 

63 

Sounds 

64 

Oil  fish 

n't 

Oil  porpoise 

21,000 

2,200 

66 

Oil,  sea-elephant 

67 

Oil,  seal 

6S 

Oil,  sperm 

69 

Oil  whale 

70 

71 

1 

■ 

ilncli'des  bag  nets,  bow  nets,  cast  nets,  cockle  nets  and  traps,  crab  nets,  ounner  nets  and  traps,  dip  nets,  paranzella  nets,  shrimp  nets,  stop  nets,  turtle  nets, 
wheels  and  sUdea,  and  beam  trawls. 


PRODUCTS. 


33 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908— Continued. 


CAUGHT  BY— (continued.) 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

All  other  nets.' 

Pots,  traps,  etc. 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

All  otber  apparatus. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1 

1 

161,000 

$7,300 

27,000 

»1,100 

300 

(») 

3 

10,000 

1200 

4 

124,000 
1,096,000 

1,000 
31,000 

25,000 

$100 

r, 

1,400 

300 

(1 

7 

18,000 
37,000 
125,000 
621,000 

9,000 
336,000 
285,000 

700 

2,000 

2,400 

34,000 

1,200 
16,000 
8,000 

800 

200 

13,000 

46,000 

70,000 

(•) 
(') 

500 
2,300 

6,000 



8 

12,000 

2,900 

446,000 

191,000 

89,000 

2,262,000 

1,300 

100 

9,300 

19,000 
3,300 
66,000 

9 

. 

in 

2,000 

$100 



11 

4,300 
14,000 
1,600 

300 

17 



1,300 
100 

n 

29,000 

1,400 

21,000 

$1,100 

5,700 

100 

14 

15 

• 

2,706,000 

198,000 

16 

14,000 
74,000 

600 
1,500 

t 

2,600 

200 

17 

105,000 

4,900 

18 

19 

10,000 
86,000 

40,000 
12,000 

800 
4,000 

3,500 
400 

m 

3,400 

100 

?1 

•n 

9,600 
2,000 
1,100 
10,000 

300 
6,300 

2,900 

"'566" 

in 

?4 

4,600 
800 

100 
400 

805,000 

12,000 

17,000 

900 

?s 

200 
50,000 

(•) 
8,400 

w 

22,000 
1,266,000 
3,298,000 

2,300 
22,000 
132,000 

4,000 
4,316,000 

500 
131,000 

184,000 

600 

8,300 

2,405,000 

30,000 
100 

?7 

43,000 

500 

1,500 

100 

9,971,000 

6,716,000 

19,000 

$105,000 

199,000 

100 

?8 

900 

W 

3,600 

an 

31 

8,400 

300 

6,000 

200 

32 

5,600 

600 

608,000 

15,272,000 

573,000 

140,000 

31,000 

1,930,000 

69,000 

12,000 

33 

34 

20,000 
1,730,000 

1,000 
97,000 

18,000 

900 

35 

15,000 

1,005,000 
847,000 
797,000 
234,000 

1,100 
16,000 

36 

37 

6,958,000 

7,856,000 

24,000 

265,000 

103,142,000 
74,816,000 
25,633,000 
28,056,000 
2,430,000 

24,000 
8,472,000 
81,825,000 

1,224,000 

504,000 

3,600 

21,000 

4,408,000 
8,301,000 

997,000 
1,957,000 

317,000 

5,000 

9,900 

392,000 

93,000 
49,000 

38 



30 

22,000 

40 

41 

499,000 

36,000 

1,327,000 

7,900 

4,800 

38,000 

42 

43 

44 

4A 

1,800 
78,000 

400 
21,000 

800 

44,000 

69,000 

44,000 

230,000 

200 

4A 

1,500 

200 

8,800 
1,700 

47 

48 

200 

49 

721,000 

1,800 

5,200 

aoo 

M) 

300,000 

M 

25,000 

400 

158,000 

400 

200 

4,700 

fiSI 

i25,666 

178,000 

11,000 
5,000 

3,800 
14,000 

100 
500 

4,600 
84,000 

1,600 
3,200 

55,000 
156,000 
622,000 
372,000 

20,000 

S3 

800 

(') 

5,300 

M 

545,000 
61,000 

N> 

' 

(>) 

(') 

m 

57 

22,000 

130,000 

7,600 

89,000 
126,000 
30,000 

(') 
9.200 

100 
9,600 

m 

ffi 

on 

1,600 
63,000 

2,200 
215,000 

1,400 

6,000 

A1 

A2 



A3 



A4 



Al> 



8,000 

800 

AA 

88,000 

3  600 

A7 

4.000 

3,363,000 

573,000 

400 

251,000 

30,000 

A8 

28,000 

1  900 

AD 

7n 

772,000 
182,000 

26,000 
1,300 

71 

1 

70,000 

500 

'  Less  than  $100. 


*  Less  than  100  pounds. 


76786"— 11- 


84 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY,   BY  STATES  AND    BY  SPECIES:   1908. 


SPEQES  AND  STATE. 


ALL  SPECIES. 


United  states. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. . . 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . . 

Ohio 

Oldahoma 

^regon 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina. . . 

South  Dakota 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 

West  Virginia 

Wisconsin 


ALBACORE,  OR  nOSSE  IIACEEBEL. 

United  States 


California 

Massachusetts. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 


ALE  WIVES. 


United  States. 


Fresh... 
Salted... 
Smoked. 


Connecticut. 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Maine. 


Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked. 

Maryland 

Fresh ^.. 

Salted 

Massachusetts 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . . 

Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked 

Pennsylvania 

Fresh 

Salted 

Rhode  Island 

Virginia 


AMBER-FISH   (JACEFISH). 

United  States 


Florida 

Massachusetts.. 
South  Carolina. 


United  States. 
California 


ANCHOVIES. 


1,893,454,000 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


10, 
12, 

47, 
66, 
70, 
74, 
14, 
74, 
15, 


5, 

46, 

173, 

113, 

244 

38: 

7; 

20, 
6, 


74, 
76, 
101, 
28, 

28, 
11. 
44, 
14, 

4, 
10, 
312, 
100, 

30, 


665,000 
667,000 
47', 000 
942,000 
769,000 
087,000 
828,000 
620,000 
507,000 
867,000 
432,000 
390,000 
106,000 
843,000 
796,000 
313,000 
302,000 
475,000 
547,000 
751,000 
399,000 
677,000 
827,000 
485,000 
422,000 
917,000 
6,700 
217,000 
888,000 
254,000 
104,000 

70,000 
606,000 
439,000 
515,000 
450,000 

33,000 
953,000 


359,000 


50,000 

92,000 

207,000 

10,000 


89,978,000 


80,945,000 

8,840,000 

193,000 


025,000 
794,000 
,224,000 
32,000 
,085,000 
,781,000 
112,000 
192,000 
,806,000 
,451,000 
,354,000 
,062,000 
,038,000 
,024,000 
121,000 
,309,000 
654,000 
,928,000 
,724,000 
,203,000 
1,200 
767,000 
019,000 
148,000 
288,000 
,885,000 


Value. 


$54,031,000 


38,000 


38,000 
100 
500 


220,000 


220,000 


387,000 

207,000 

1,970,000 

2,982,000 

541,000 

3,389,000 

701,000 

1,430,000 

223,000 

215,000 

28,000 

110,000 

1,509,000 

3,257,000 

3,306,000 

7,095,000 

1,473,000 

192,000 

550,000 

271,000 

22,000 

53,000 

3,069,000 

4,594,000 

1,776,000 

840,000 

300 

1,356,000 

613,000 

1,752,000 

288,000 

4,200 

112,000 

446,000 

4,716,000 

3,513,000 

2,000 

1,067,000 


12,000 


800 
5,400 
5,600 

400 


589,000 


455,000 

130,000 

3,500 

12,000 

8,400 

5,500 

1,000 

18,000 

12,000 

2,000 

3,400 

157,000 

98,000 

69,000 

45,000 

29,000 

.  16,000 

1,800 

12,000 

7,100 

140,000 

88,000 

52,000 

(') 

6,400 

6,300 

1,100 

4,600 

171,000 


1,600 


1,600 


(') 
(') 


1.000 


1.600 


'  Less  than  $100. 

'  Includes  Delaware,  Maine,  Michigan,  Minnesota,  and  Pennsylvania. 

•  Includes  Alabama,  Delaware,  Louisiana,  South  Carolina,  and  Texas. 


SPECIES  AND  STATE. 


BARRACUDA. 


United  States. 


Fresh . . 
Salted., 


California.. 

Fresh . . 

Salted., 
Florida 


BLACK   BASS. 


United  States . 


A!al)ama 

Arkansas 

California 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . . 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states ' . 


BLACK   COD. 


United  States. 


California 

Oregon 

Washington., 


United  States . 


Fresh . . 
Salted. 


Connecticut 

Florida 

Fresh 

Salted 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . . 

Fresh 

Salted 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

Virginia 

All  other  states '. 


United  States. 


California 

Florida 

Massachusetts.., 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. , 
Virginia 


BREAM  AND  StmEISH. 

United  States 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

Florida 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Louisiana 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  York 

North  Carolina. , . 

Tennessee 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

A 11  other  states*. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


3,250,000 


3,138,000 
112,000 

3,205,000 

3,093,000 

112,000 

45,000 


3,313,000 


36,000 

292,000 

82,000 

,070,000 

6,000 

532,000 

54,000 

7,100 

40,000 

15,000 

15,000 

329,000 

38,000 

511,000 

177,000 

17,000 

71,000 

13,000 

7,400 


209,000 


35,000 

5,000 

168,000 


7,647,000 


7,694,000 
52,000 


7,900 

952,000 

901,000 

61. (XX) 

14,000 

42,000 

18,000 

850,000 

191,000 

256,000 

256,000 

1,400 

7,600 

40,000 

242,000 

25,000 


329,000 

11,000 

66,000 

678,000 

102,000 

11,000 

200 


4,738,000 


9,100 

228,000 

,547,000 

,714,000 

127,000 

40,000 

48,000 

66,000 

14,000 

441,000 

31,000 

KS.OOO 

148,000 

58,000 

75,000 

27,000 


*  Includes  Delaware,  Georgia,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Maryland,  Ohio, 
South  Carolina,  and  Texas. 


PRODUCTS. 


85 


Table  6.— PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


SPECIES  AND  STATE. 


IIUFFALO  nsu. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

lUinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Ohio 

Oklalioma 

South  Dakota. 
Tennessee..... 

Texas 

West  Virginia. 
Wisconsin 


BUTTERFISH. 


United  States . 


California... 
Connecticut. 

Delaware 

Florida 


Maine . 

Maryland 

Massachusetts . . 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 
Rhode  Island . . . 
Virginia 


CARP,  GERMAN. 


United  States. 


Fresh . . . 
Smoked . 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Councclicut 

Delaware 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina... 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

South  Dakota 

Tennessee 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

Fresh 

Smoked 

All  other  states*. 


United  Slates . 


Alabama... 
Arkansas . . 
California . . 
Delaware . . 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky . . 
Louisiana.. 
Maryland . . 
Michigan... 
Minnesota.. 
Mississippi. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


16,729,000 


226,000 

,051,000 

,042,000 

124,000 

560,000 

35,000 

530,000 

,02(;,000 

664,000 

,(K4,000 

993,000 

43,000 

9,000 

1,200 

32,000 

704,000 

240,000 

300 

,178,000 


0,855,000 


89,000 

102,000 

700 

16,000 

6,400 

151,000 

67,000 
054,000 
220,000 
302,000 
112,000 
725,000 


42,763,000 


42,759,000 
4,500 


22,000 

175,000 

427,000 

7,600 

133,000 

38,000 
642,000 
128,000 
048,000 
304,000 
449,000 

12,000 
167,000 
469,000 
132,000 

26,000 
432,000 
254,000 
220,000 
406,000 
228,000 
158,000 

71,000 

12,000 
237,000 
286,000 
247,000 
242,000 
4,500 

42,000 


21, 
2, 


17,817,000 


323,000 
895,000 
,069,000 
151,000 
481,000 
280,000 
044,000 
102,000 
418,000 
52,000 
436,000 
405,000 
409,000 
270,000 
208,000 
502,000 


Value. 


$498,000 


11,000 
43,000 
117,000 

7,000 
23,000 

2,000 
21,000 
50,000 
22,000 
34,000 
30,000 

2,200 
800 

(') 

1,200 

22,000 

7,400 

(■) 

103,000 


237,000 


13,000 
4,100 
(') 

400 

300 

7,400 

3,500 

51,000 

64,000 

29,000 

42,000 

21,000 


1,135,000 


1,135,000 
700 

1,500 

4,100 

4,300 

60O 

6,700 

1,200 

574,000 

6,000 

62,000 

19,000 

18,000 

1,000 

7,100 

55,000 

26,000 

500 

80,000 

12,000 

16,000 

31,000 

7,000 

129,000 

2,200 

700 

8,200 

8,000 

52,000 

62,000 

700 

800 


785,000 


17,000 
33,000 
56,000 

7,300 
54,000 
15,000 
96,000 

7,800 
33,000 

4,400 
20,000 
143,000 
18,000 
12,000 
14,000 
19,000 


SPECIES  AND  STATE. 


CATTISH— continued. 


Missouri 

Nebraska 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina.. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania... 
South  Dakota.. 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

West  Virginia. . 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states  a 


United  States. 


Florida. 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


California,  salted 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Massachusetts 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  Hampshire 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

Washington,  salted. 


CBAPPIE  AND  STBAWBEBBT  BASS. 


United  States. 


Alabama. . 
Arkansas. 
Florida... 
Illinois 


Iowa. 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

North  Carolina. . 

Tennessee , 

Texas 

Wisconsin 


CREVALLt. 


United  States. 


Alabama... 

Florida 

Louisiana.. 
Mississippi. 

Texas 

Virginia.... 


United  States. 


Alabama 

California 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

MLs.sissippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 
Pennsylvania. .. 
South  Carolina. 

Texas 

Virginia , 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


,166,000 

66,000 

63,000 

247,000 

604,000 

605,000 

201,000 

26,000 

20,000 

367,000 

560,000 

738,000 

9,600 

276,000 

25,000 


123,000 


123,000 


110,054,000 


79,808,000 
30,245,000 


298,000 
820,000 
7,000 
013,000 
385,000 
628,000 
819,000 
148,000 
671,000 
135,000 
767,000 
999,000 
50,000 
497,000 
648,000 


20, 
17, 
2, 
72, 
S3, 
19, 

3 

2, 

1, 

4. 


23,000 

300,000 

180,000 

,281,000 

115,000 

600 

12,000 

96,000 

97,000 

93,000 

336,000 

24,000 

186,000 

41.000 

10,000 


1,564,000 


5,200 

1,435,000 

24,000 

600 

19,000 

80,000 


8,143,000 


4, 


72,000 

58,000 

79,000 

94,000 

46,000 

369,000 

179,000 

176,000 

790,000 

7,500 

177,000 

14,000 

85,000 

159,000 

839,000 


Value. 


t51,000 

6,600 

5,300 

20,000 

11,000 

25,000 

9,000 

1,700 

2,000 

20,000 

26,000 

31,000 

700 

20,000 

600 


2,800 


2,800 


2,914,000 


1,964,000 
950,000 

94,000 

27,000 

400 

439,000 

351,000 

88,000 

1,955,000 

1,311,000 

644,000 

3,900 

130,000 

99,000 

800 

42,000 

124,000 


108,000 


1,200 

13,000 

7,400 

35,000 

4,700 

(■) 

900 
6,400 
6,000 
5,000 
17,000 
1.000 
7,800 
2,900 
400 


28,000 


100 
24,000 
1,400 
(') 

800 
1,800 


226,000 


1,400 
1,800 
2,900 
2,100 
1,800 

28,000 
6,300 
3,700 

19,000 
200 

31,000 

600 

2,800 

7,000 

119,000 


'  Less  than  1100.        '  Includes  Florida,  Oregon,  Texas,  and  West  Virginia. 


>  Includes  Connecticut,  Oklahoma,  Rhode  Island,  and  South  Carolina. 


36 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Tablk  5.— products— detail  SUMMARY   BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


SPEQKS  AND  STATE. 


COLTCS  COD. 


United  States. 


California... 

Oregon 

Washington. 


United  States. 


Maine 

Massachusetts. 
Rhode  Island . . 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Massachusetts. 

Fresh 

Baited 


DOOFTSH.OB  BOWFINS. 

United  States 


nUnois 

Michigan 

Missouri 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . . 
All  other  states  ■ . 


DBUH,  rRESH-WATEB. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

nihiols 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Michigan. 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missoun 

Ohio 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states* . 


DBim,  SALT-WATEB. 


United  states. 


Alabama 

Florida , 

Oeorgia 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

North  Carolina. . 
South  Carolina. 

Texas 

Virginia 


United  States. 


Connecticut 

Delaware 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts . . . 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina... 

Pennsylvania 

Rhode  Island 

Virginia 

All  other  states'. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


250,000 


167,000 
20,000 
62,000 


199,000 


93,000 

102,000 

5,000 


6,344,000 


6,242,000 
103,000 

2,078,000 
2,039,000 

39,000 
4,267,000 
4,203,000 

64,000 


1,701,000 


1,370,000 
85,000 
34,000 
42,000 
101,000 
69,000 


6,532,000 


151,000 
402,000 
666,000 
137,000 
188,000 

12,000 
354,000 
845,000 
186,000 
333,000 
337,000 
323,000 
227,000 
204,000 

13,000 
096,000 

50,000 


4,576,000 


151,000 

,426,000 

151,000 

716,000 

39,000 

244,000 

8,700 

343,000 

109,000 

,309,000 

78,000 


3,358,000 


111,000 
202,000 

31,000 

5,400 

498,000 

221,000 

722,000 

17,000 
253,000 
736,000 
258,000 

54,000 
149,000 

87,000 

15,000 


Value. 


$7,000 


4,800 

800 

1,400 


7,500 


1,600 

5,600 

300 


105,000 


103,000 
2,200 

32,000 
31,000 
900 
73,000 
72,000 
1,300 


22,000 


18,000 

1,200 

700 

600 

1,400 

600 


154,000 


10,000 
8,900 

20,000 
7,600 
5,300 
1,100 

16.000 

15,000 
1,800 
4,600 
6,600 

11,000 

13,000 

9,500 

700 

20,000 
1,200 


164,000 


0,800 
38,000 

5,100 

39,000 

500 

11,000 

100 

7,200 

2,500 
52,000 

1,500 


203,000 


9,100 
15,000 

1,800 

fiOO 

25,000 

13,000 

32,000 

1,000 
22,000 
57,000 

5,(100 

5,noo 

11,000 
4,200 
1,000 


BPECnSS  AND  STATE. 


'  Includes  Iowa,  Massachusetts,  Minnesota,  Ohio,  Virginia,  and  Wisconsin. 
»  Includes  Delaware,  Nebraska,  New  York,  Oklahoma,  Pennsylvania,  and  West 
Vlrghila. 


FLOUNDEBS. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts  J. 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania. .. 
Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. . 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 


United  States. 


Fresh., 
Salted. 


Alabama , 

Florida 

Fresh 

Salted 

Georgia 

South  Carolina. 


United  States. 


Florida 

North  Carolina. 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Connecticut 

Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Massachusetts 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  Ilampshlre. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Connecticut 

Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Massachusetts 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Connecticut.... 

Maine 

Massachusetts.. 

Fresh 

Salted 

Oregon 

Washington 


Quantity 
(pounds). 

Vala». 

23,346,000 

1588,000 

31,000 

1,600 

6,681,000 

144,000 

707,000 

21,000 

17,000 

1,200 

185,000 

8,100 

7,200 

400 

71,000 

6,000 

31,000 

600 

47,000 

2,100 

7,124,000 

146,000 

38,000 

2,000 

650,000 

25,000 

4,629,000 

141,000 

403,000 

16,000 

23,000 

500 

4,700 

200 

1,891,000 

60,000 

4,700 

200 

140,000 

6,600 

189,000 

7,400 

474,000 

7,000 

1,870,000 

42,000 

1,864,000 

42,000 

6,000 

300 

394,000 

3,900 

1,276,000 

34,000 

1,270,000 

34,000 

6,000 

300 

160,000 

2,900 

40,000 

1,000 

389,000 

19,000 

388,000 

19,000 

800 

(•) 

69,987,000 

1,308,000 

58,946,000 

1,286,000 

1,042,000 

22,000 

24,000 

900 

10,513,000 

243,000 

10,444,000 

242,000 

09,000 

1,300 

48,492,000 

1,038,000 

47,519,000 

1,017,000 

973,000 

21,000 

100,000 

2.700 

20,000 

600 

424,000 

12,000 

416,000 

11,000 

3^340,000 

464,000 

33,815,000 

455,  (X» 

625,000 

8,900 

500 

(•) 

17,398,000 

168,000 

17,104,000 

164,000 

295,000 

4,100 

16,708,000 

294,000 

16,478,000 

289,000 

230,000 

4,800 

13,000 

100 

181,000 

1,600 

39,000 

1,000 

2,300 

100 

34,441,000 

1,562,000 

33,785,000 

1,509,000 

656,000 

53,000 

8,500 

600 

200,000 

15,000 

4,145,000 

310,000 

3,489,000 

2,57,000 

(i.56, 000 

5.'i,000 

16,000 

700 

30,072,000 

1,236,000 

•  Includes  Arkansas,  Georgia,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Louisiana,  Michigan, 
Minnesota,  Tennessee,  and  Wisconsin. 
« Less  than  tlOO. 


PRODUCTS. 

Table  5 PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


87 


SPEaES  AND  STATE. 


HERRING. 


TJoited  states. 


Fresh... 
Baited... 
Smoked. 


California 

Uabie 

Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked 

Massachusetts.. 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  York 

Oregon 

Rhode  Island . . 
Washington 


HEBRINO,  LAKE. 


United  States. 


Frefsh... 
Salted... 
Smoked. 


lUinois 

Indiana 

Ilichigan 

Fresh 

Salted 

Ifinnesota 

Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked. . . 

New  York 

Oiiio 

J'resh 

Salted 

Pennsylvania. 
Wisconsin 

Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked. . . 


HICKORY  SHAD. 


United  States. 


Fresh . . 
Salted.. 


Alabama 

Florida 

Georgia 

North  Carolina. . 

Fresh 

Salted 

Sooth  Carolina.. 

Tennessee , 

Virginia 


United  States. 


Fresh... 
Salted... 


California , 

Fresh 

Salted 

Florida 

Louisiana 

North  Carolina. . 

South  Carolina. 

Texas 


United  States. 


Alabama. . 
Florida.... 


United  States. 


Fresh., 
Salted. 


Alabama. . . 
Florida 

Fresh . . 

Salted . 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


125,050,000 


115,563,000 

9,263,000 

234,000 


825,000 
985,000 
188,000 
563,000 
234,000 
501,000 
812,000 
690,000 
2,600 
15,000 
214,000 
606,000 


41,118,000 


25,242,000 
11,951,000 
3,925,000 


598,000 
198,000 
,787,000 
,170,000 
,617,000 
,778,000 
608,000 
165,000 
4,000 
044,000 
792,000 
780,000 
12,000 
796,000 
124,000 
040,000 
167,000 
921,000 


876,000 


859,000 
17,000 

59,000 

198.000 

3.500 

377.000 

3<»,000 

17,000 

3,100 

2,800 

233,000 


223,000 


202,000 
22,000 

161,000 

140,000 

22,000 

14,000 

100 

1,200 

70O 

46,000 


52,000 


100 
52,000 


346,000 


229,000 
117,000 

1,000 
345,000 
228,000 
117,000 


Value. 


$796,000 


658,000 

135,000 

2,900 

11,000 

420,000 

389,000 

28,000 

2,900 

342,000 

235,000 

107,000 

100 

300 

1,900 

21,000 


989,000 


730,000 
191,000 
67,000 

28,000 

8,400 

304,000 

149,000 

155,000 

38,000 

21,000 

18,000 

200 

51,000 

147,000 

147,000 

400 

90,000 

322,000 

2.37,000 

18,000 

67,000 


38,000 


37,000 
1,000 

2,700 

8,000 

200 

20,000 

19,000 

1,000 

300 

100 

6,200 


4,300 
800 

2,600  i 

1,800 

800 

1,100 


(■) 


100 


900 


(0 


900 


9,000 


6,000 
4,000 


(') 


9.000 
5,000 
4,000 


1  Less  than  JIOO. 

'  Includes  Indiana,  Kansas,  Michigan,  New  York,  and  Pennsylvania. 


SPEaES  AND  STATE. 


LINO, 

United  States.... 


OR  EELPOUT. 


Illinois 

Massachusetts 

Ohio 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states  •. 


MACKEREL. 


United  States. 


Fresh., 

Salted., 


Connecticut 

Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.. 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . . 


UACKEREL,  CHCB. 


United  States. 


California 

Florida 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . 


HBNHADEN. 


United  States. 


Fresh., 
Salted.. 


Alabama 

Coimecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.., 

Fresh 

Salted 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 
Rhode  Island . . , 
Virginia 


United  States 

Virginia 

HoomnaH  (anoel-fish,  or  spadefish). 
United  States 


Florida 

North  Carolina. . , 
All  other  states'. 


United  States. 


Fresh . , 
Salted. 


Alabama 

California 

Delaware 

Florida 

Fresh 

Salted 

Georgia 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. , 

Fresh 

Salted 

South  Carolina. 

Fresh 

Salted 

Texas 

Virginia 


1,656,000 

3,600 

27,000 

24.582,000 

23.536,000 

1.046,000 

194,000 

133,000 

47,000 

1,035,000 

7,600 

100 

5,070.000 

3,185.000 

1,885,000 

OtV4,000 

675,000 

89,000 

20,000 

264,000 

>  Includes  Alabama,  Ivoulsiana,  Mississippi,  and  Virginia. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


326,000 


27,000 
73,000 
100,000 
42,000 
83,000 


12,103,000 


1,870,000 
!,  233, 000 

122,000 

380,000 

378,000 

2,200 

4,400 

1,463,000 

;,  222, 000 

!,231,000 

501,000 

106,000 

537,000 


639,000 


197,000 

4,500 

58,000 

379,000 


394,776,000 


394,771,000 
5,000 


3, 
12, 

12i 
57, 
17, 
190, 


1,200 
636,000 
815,000 

2,000 
293,000 
258,000 
253,000 

5,000 
149,000 
417,000 
762,000 
412,000 
942.000 
089,000 


2,200 


161,000 


88,000 
63,000 
20,000 


33,703,000 


30,682,000 
3,020,000 


Value. 


14,500 


600 

1,300 

1,300 

600 

800 


848,000 


686,000 
102,000 

8,900 

31,000 

31,000 

200 

900 

761,000 

600,000 

161,000 

14,000 

6,eoo 

25,000 


16,000 


3,300 

100 

2,900 

9,800 


893,000 


893,000 
200 

(') 

93,000 

162,000 

(') 

30,000 

1,400 

1,300 

200 

3,900 

43,000 

22,000 

70,000 

48,000 

429,000 


900 


900 


6,000 


4,000 

1,300 

600 


008,000 


786,000 
122,000 

33,000 

300 

1,000 

637.000 

598,000 

39,000 

5,400 

6,600 

1,600 

20,000 

300 

(') 

176,000 

94,000 

80,000 

19,000 

16,000 

3,100 

900 

9,400 


38 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  5 PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


SPECIES  AN]>  STATE. 


MUSKALLUNGE. 


United  states. 


Michigan. . . 
New  York . 

Ohio 

Wisconsin.. 


MUTTON-FISH. 


United  States. 
Florida 


PADDLEPISH. 


United  States. 


Arlcansas... 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Kansas.... 
Kentuclcy.., 
Louisiana.. 
Mississippi. 
Missouri  — 
Nebraslca. . 

Ohio 

Tennessee.. 
Texas 


PERCH,  WHITE. 


United  States. 


Connecticut 

Delaware 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts... 

New  Jersey 

New  York , 

North  Carolina.. 
Rhode  Island... 
Virginia 


PEBCH,  YELLOW. 


United  States. 


Delaware 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Micliigan 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states  3. 


United  States. 


Florida. 


PIGFISH, 

United  States 


OR  HOGPISH. 


Alahama 

Florida 

North  Carolina. 

Texas 

Virginia 


PIKE  AND  PICKEREL. 

United  States 


Delaware 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Maryland 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

New  York 

North  Carolina... 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Texas 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states*. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


25,000 


4,000 
19,000 

(') 
1,900 


417.000 


417,000 


71,000 

402.000 

6,900 

1,500 

65,000 

132.000 

463,000 

128,000 

20,000 

1,000 

195.000 

32,000 


2,412,000 


7,600 

173,000 

700 

545.000 

1,300 

140.000 

90,000 

993,000 

15,000 

446,000 


7,898,000 


18,000 

14,000 
238,000 
119,000 
359,000 

19,000 
378,000 

17,000 
144,000 
360,000 
441,000 

85,000 
118,000 
563,000 

26,000 


777,000 


400 

190,000 

476,000 

2,600 

109,000 


2,959,000 


14,000 
14,000 
61,000 
35,000 

478,000 

351,000 
58,000 
90,000 
69,000 
,118,000 
14,000 

305,000 
12,000 

317,000 
26,000 


Value. 


»1,700 


400 
1,200 


(^) 


49.000 


2,000 

12,000 

300 

100 

1,700 

5,000 
14.000 

4,000 
800 
100 

7,500 
800 


1.37,000 


400 
14,000 
(») 
30,000 

100 
11,000 
8.700 
44,000 

900 
27,000 


258,000 


1,700 

600 

12,000 

7,600 
22,000 

1,000 
73,000 

1,300 

6,400 
14,000 
54,000 

3,400 

5,500 

55,000 

800 


1,000 


1,000 


32,000 


6,600 

14,000 

100 

11,000 


174,000 


1,100 
1,100 
3,200 
3,800 

32,000 

11,000 
1,200 
9,600 
3,100 

70,000 
1,600 

11,000 
1,000 

23,000 
1,200 


'  Less  than  100  pounds. 
'  Less  than  SIOO. 

3  Includes  Iowa,  Minnesota,  Tennessee,  and  Texas. 

*  Includes  Arkansas,  Connecticut,  Florida,    Georgia,   Indiana,  Kansas,  Maine . 
New  Jersey,  Rhode  Island,  South  Dakota,  and  Tennessee. 


SPECIES   AND   STATE. 


PIKE  PERCH. 


United  States. 


Illinois 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Micliigan 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

New  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania... 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states  s 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 

Salted . 


Connecticut 

Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Massachusetts... 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island 


United  States. 


Florida 

North  Carolina., 
Texas. 


Virginia 

All  other  states'  . 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted., 


Florida 

Fresh . . 
Salted., 


POEKTISII. 

United  States 

Florida : . . . 

REDPISH,  OR  BOSEFISH. 

United  States 


Maine 

Massachusetts.. 


United  States. 


Arkansas 

Illinois 

Michigan 

Mississippi 

All  other  states' . 


United  States. 


Fresh . . 
Salted.. 


California 

Fresh 

Salted.... 

Oregon 

Washington. 


ROUND  ROBIN. 

United  States , 

Florida 

SACBAHENTO  PIKE. 

United  States 

California 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


15,247,000 


14,000 

38,000 

8,400 

194,000 

273,000 

34,000 

001,000 

625,000 

9.56,000 

88,000 

16,000 


29,462,000 


28,078,000 
1,384,000 


25,000 
941,000 
477,000 
404,000 
006,000 
080.000 
920,000 
6,300 

84,000 
133,000 
260,000 


570,000 


508,000 
11,000 
18,000 
20,000 
14,000 


133,000 


128,000 
5,000 

133,000 

128,000 

5,000 


35,000 


35,000 
305,000 


2,000 
303,000 


107,000 

15,000 
6,200 
57,000 
12,000 
16,000 


2,454,000 


2,445,000 
8,800 

2,319,000 

2,310,000 

8,800 

3,000 

132,000 


26,000 


26,000 


20,000 


20,000  ' 


600 


*  Includes  Arkansas,  Indiana,  Kansas,  Louisiana,  Nebraska,  Tennessee,  and 
West  Virginia. 

»  Includes  Alabama,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  Mississippi,  and 
South  Carolina. 

'  Includes  Kentucky,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  New  York,  and  Wisconsin. 


PRODUCTS. 

Table  5 — PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY   BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    190S— Continued. 


39 


SPEOES  AND  STATE. 


SAILOR'S  CHOICE,  OE  FINnSH. 

United  States 


Alabama 

Florida 

Mississippi 

North  Carolina. 
South  Carolina. , 
Virginia 


United  States. 


Fresh., 
Salted. 


CBlltornia 

Fresh 

Salted 

Connecticut 

Maine 

Massachusetts.. 

Oregon 

Wa.shington 


United  States. 
California 


United  States. 


Connecticut 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Pennsylvania.. 
Rhode  Island.. 
Virginia 


United  States. 


Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. . . 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . 
Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. 
Virginia 


United  States. 


New  Jersey. 
New  York.. 


United  States. 


Calilomla 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia , 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts... 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania.., 
Rhode  Island . , . 
South  Carolina. . 

Virginia 

Washington 


United  States. 


Maryland 

New  York 

South  Carolina. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,720,000 


6,900 

100 

,257,000 

32,000 

9,200 

200 

413,000 

6,200 

34,000 

1,000 

100 

(') 

90,417,000 


90,379,000 
39,000 

9,211,000 

9, 173, 000 

39,000 

100 

19,000 

(') 

26,876,000 

54,312,000 


4,638,000 


4,638,000 


8,414,000 


95,000 

300 

1,136,000 

1,196,000 

1,294,000 

11,000 
4,616,000 

65,000 


6,352,000 


61,000 

300 

154,000 

233,000 

225,000 

114,000 

200 

i,  161, 000 

723,000 

72,000 

860,000 

197,000 

491,000 

63,000 


115,000 


62,000 
53,000 


169,000 
122,000 
870,000 
836,000 
333,000 
770,000 
937,000 
389,000 
004,000 
360,000 
942,000 
431,000 
593,000 
4,500 
464,000 
314,000 
100,000 


75,000 


Value. 


139,000 


3,347,000 


3,345,000 
1,700 

471,000 
470,000 
1,700 
(') 

3,700 
(') 
1,301,000 
1,671.000 


30,000 


30,000 


290,000 


8,500 

{') 

40,000 

35,000 

45,000 

300 

158,000 

3,500 


284,000 


5,400 
(') 
6,600 
14,000 
6,800 
8,400 
(') 

123,000 
35,000 
3,200 
44,000 
12,000 
22,000 
2,900 


700 


200 
500 


2,113,000 


12,000 

18,000 

68,000 
320,000 
190,000 

42,000 
247,000 

12,000 
229,000 

27,000 

373,000 

8,000 

38,000 
400 

41,000 

486,000 

1,900 


1,500 


300 

1.900 

72,000 


fli 


1,400  ' 


SPEOES  AND  STATE. 


'  Less  than  $100. 

*  Less  than  100  pounds. 

*  Includes  Delaware,  Maryland,  New  Jersey,  and  New  York. 


SHEEPSHEAD. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Florida 

Georgia 

LouL'iiana 

Mississippi 

North  Carolina... 
South  Carolina. . . 

Texas 

Virginia 

All  other  states ' . 


SILVEB  HAKE. 


United  States. 


Caliromia 

Connecticut 

Maine 

Massachusetts. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . . 


United  States. 


California 

Massachusetts 

New  York 

All  other  states  *  . 


United  States. 


California 

Connecticut 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York" 

Oregon 

Rhode  Island 

"Washington 


SNA7FEB,  RED. 


United  States. 


Alabama , 

Florida 

Georgia 

South  Carolina. 
Texas , 


SNAPPER,  OTIIER. 


United  States. 


Florida 

North  Carolina.. 
South  Carolina. , 


SPANISH  MACKEREL. 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Alabama 

California 

Fresh 

Salted 

Florida 

Fresh........ 

Salted 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

North  Carolina. . . 

Te.xas 

Virginia 

All  other  states » . 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Delaware 

Florida 

Maryland 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina.. 
South  Carolina.. 
Virginia 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


2,637,000 


24,000 
,571,000 

64,000 
249,000 

81,000 
249,000 

20,000 
298,000 

82,000 
1,000 


10,336,000 


32,000 
179,000 
25,000 
5,589,000 
3,708,000 
268,000 
534,000 


402,000 


124,000 
93,000 

168,000 
18,000 


718,000 

10,000 

654,000 

16,000 

2,600 

7,500 

4,000 

30,000 

1,200 

1,897,000 


13,498,000 


2,635,000 

7,719,000 

880,000 

12,000 

2,2.52,000 


356,000 


342,000 
13,000 
1,000 


3,806,000 


3,705,000 
101,000 


13,000 

349,000 

327,000 

23,000 

647,000 

569,000 

78,000 

7,100 

7,100 

457,000 

42,000 

276,000 

6,200 


1,824,000 


83,000 

15,000 

178,000 

3,100 

71,000 
255,000 
109,000 
852,000 

66,000 
192,000 


Value, 


$97,000 


1,200 
38,000 

3,700 
18,000 

4,300 

12,000 

900 

14,000 

5,000 
lOO 


93,000 


300 
2,100 
100 
39,000 
44,000 
3,700 
3,600 


4,200 


1,000 
700 

2,100 
400 


174,000 


41,000 

1,200 

65,000 

2,600 

300 

1,500 

900 

800 

100 

61,000 


636,000 


92,000 
434,000 
30,000 
40O 
79,000 


16,000 


16,000 
300 


194,000 


190,000 
3,600 

600 

6,300 

4,600 

700 

122,000 

120,000 

2,800 

600 

1,800 

34,000 

3,400 

26,000 

700 


46,000 


1,600 
1,300 
4.200 

100 

1.300 
3,100 
2,600 

16,000 
1,800 

15,000 


*  Includes  New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  Rhode  Island,  and  Virginia. 

>  Includes  Connecticut,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  and  New  York. 


40 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  5.— PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY   STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


SPECIES  AND   STATE. 


QuantitT 
(pounds). 


Value. 


SPECIES  AND  STATE. 


Quantity 

Value 

(pounds). 

197,000 

16,600 

40,000 

2,100 

58,000 

900 

4,4<i7,000 

117,000 

4,235,000 

112,000 

232,000 

4,900 

76,000 

800 

54,000 

1,400 

74,000 

5,900 

276,000 

13,000 

03,000 

2,000 

1,387,000 

20,000 

57,000 

1,500 

69,000 

3,200 

6,000 

300 

1.212,000 

24,000 

1,089,000 

22,000 

123,000 

1,900 

65,000 

1,700 

885,000 

21,000 

198,000 

5,400 

26,000 

800 

661,000 

15,000 

2,714,000 

198,000 

7,800 

20O 

240,000 

15,000 

513,000 

44.000 

1,642,000 

122,000 

3,600 

200 

308,000 

18,000 

995,000 

37,000 

119,000 

4,600 

55,000 

2,800 

170,000 

6,300 

112,000 

3,500 

81,000 

3,100 

458,000 

17,000 

289,000 

9,100 

49,000 

1,500 

117,000 

4,600 

97,000 

2,300 

26,000 

700 

18,000 

6,300 

18,000 

6,300 

12,024,000 

800,000 

11,671,000 

781,000 

353,000 

19,000 

150,000 

13,000 

1.30,000 

9,600 

6,798,000 

424,000 

6,508,000 

408,000 

290,000 

16,000 

215,000 

12,000 

188,000 

10,000 

27,000 

1,500 

20,000 

1,400 

(') 

(') 

700 

(») 

4,710,000 

.340,000 

4,675,000 

a39,000 

36,000 

1,300 

265,000 

13,000 

16,000 

1,000 

.37,000 

1,800 

172,000 

8,200 

39.000 

1,600 

SQ17ETEAGITE. 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Alabama 

Calilomia 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Fresh 

Salted 

Oeorgia 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Massachusetts... 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina-. 

Fresh 

Salted 

Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. . 

Texas 

Virginia 


STBIPED  BASS. 


United  States. 


California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Oeorgia 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. . . 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 
Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island . . . 
South  Carolina. . 
Virginia 


United  States. 


Fresh.... 
Smoked . 


California 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Maine 

Maryland 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina.. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

Fresh 

Smoked 

All  other  states  i . 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Alabama 

Connecticut. 

Illinois 

Indiana 


49,869,000 


49,800,000 
68,000 


208,000 
337,000 
180,000 
590,000 
864,000 
810,000 
54,000 
140,000 
103,000 
191,000 
971,000 
517,000 
814,000 
151,000 
635,000 
620,000 
14,000 
12,000 
,427.000 
183,000 
055, 000 
491,000 


3,057,000 


2,072,000 


2,070,000 
2,500 

10,000 

31,000 

62,000 
100,000 
178,000 

62,000 
215,000 

60,000 
8,200 

37,000 

67,000 
164,000 
132,000 

11,000 
132,000 
105,000 

62,000 

8,600 

114,000 

16,000 
183,000 
185,000 
112,000 
110,000 
2,500 

37,000 


8,656,000 


11,776,000 


8,199,000 
356,000 

80,000 

66,000 

281,000 

21,000 


1,774,000 
2,900 

10,000 

42,000 

6,800 

29,000 

196,000 

194,000 

2,200 

12,000 

82,000 

47,000 

58,000 

28,000 

342,000 

451,000 

206,000 

206,000 

600 

200 

72,000 

8,700 

46,000 

139,000 


314,000 


776,000 

135,000 

6,500 

800 

63,000 

7,300 

9,000 

1,000 

8,900 

800 

2,100 

400 

640,000 

65,000 

5,100 

8  00 

53,000 

7,400 

45,000 

7,600 

510,000 

36,000 

7,200 

800 

34,000 

4,700 

5,000 

300 

604,000 

46,000 

157,000 


157,000 
500 

500 
3,200 
5,000 
7,000 
6,600 
6,800 

11,000 
2,400 
1,000 
5,000 
7,100 

11,000 

5,000 

600 

13,000 

16,000 

6,400 

700 

6,800 

3,700 

22,000 
6,000 
8,200 
7,700 
500 
2.000 


215,000 


208,000 
6,700 

4,600 
3,000 
6,400 
1,100 


•  Includes  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Connecticut,  Kansas,  Massachusetts,  South 
Dakota,  Tennessee,  and  West  Virginia. 

'  Includes  Arkan.sas,  Delaware,  Oeorgia,  Kansas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  South 
Dakota,  and  Virginia. 

'  Includes  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  New  Jersey,  Oregon,  Rhode  Island,  and 
Virginia. 


SUCKERS— continued. 


Iowa 

Kentucky 

Maine 

Michigan 

Fresh 

Salted 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina.. 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania 

Tennessee 

West  Virginia... 
Wisconsin 

Fresh 

Salted 

All  other  states  2. 


SCKF-nSH, 

United  States.. 


0»  VIVIPAROUS  PEBCH. 


California 

Oregon 

Washington . 


SWORDFISH. 


United  states. 


California 

Connecticut... 

Maine 

Massachusetts. 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . 


United  States. 


Connecticut... 

Delaware 

Massachusetts. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . . 


United  States. 


California 

Maine 

New  York 

All  other  stat«s'. 


TEOUT,  BEOOK. 


United  States. 
New  York 


TROUT,  LAKE. 


United  States. 


Fresh.. 
Salted. 


Illinois 

Indiana 

Michigan 

Fresh 

Salted 

Minnesota 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania- 
Wisconsin  

Fresh 

Salted 


■WHITE  BASS. 


United  States. 


Arkansas 

Michigan 

Ohio 

All  other  states  • 

*  Less  than  100  pounds. 
'  Less  than  $100. 

•  Includes  Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa,  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  Tennessee,  and 
Wisconsin. 


PRODUCTS. 

Table  6 PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY   STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. • 


41 


SPKaES  AND  STATE. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


SPSaES  AND  STATE. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


WHITEFISH. 


United  States. 


Fresh... 
Salted... 
Smoked. 


Illinois 

Indiana 

Ulchigan 

Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked. . . 
Uinnesota 

Fresh 

Salted 

New  York 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania. 
Wisconsin 

Fresh 

Salted 

Smoked.  - . 


WHITraa   AND   KINGFISH. 


United  States. 


Florida 

Georgia 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina.. 
South  Carolina. . 

Teias 

Virginia 

All  other  states  > 


YELLOWTAIL. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Florida 

Louisiana 

South  Carolina. 


OTHER  FISH. 


United  States. 


California 

Connecticut 

Florida 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

llassachusetts — 

New  York 

Oregon 

Washington 

All  other  states ». 


United  States. 


Arkansas 

Delaware 

Florida 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Louisiana 

Uaryland 

Michigan 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Pennsylvania 

Tennessee 

Texas , 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states  *. 


United  States. 


Arkansas 

Delaware 

Illinois , 

Iowa 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Minnesota 

Missouri , 

North  Carolina.. 

Ohio 

Tennessee 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 


,722,000 


7,306,000 
342,000 
15,000 


14,000 

52,000 
772,000 
490,000 
270,000 

13,000 
242,000 
241,000 
1,000 
179,000 
732,000 
455,000 
274,000 
202,000 

71,000 
1,900 


1,614,000 


253,000 


1,100 
170,000 
64,000 
17,000 


1,372,000 

12,00Q 
366,000 
150,000 

2.5,000 
599,000 
242,000 

36,000 
660.000 

60,000 

217,000 


800 
3,100 
135,000 
1,300 
8,600 
6,500 
8,100 
3,500 
4,100 
9,700 
8,100 

600 
3,200 

700 
22,000 

900 
2,000 


259,000 


27,000 
1,900 

25,000 
2,500 

38,000 
1,000 

66,000 

67,000 
S,400 
4,000 
5.000 
3,000 

14,000 


1524,000 


607,000 
17,000 
1,300 

800 

5,000 

339,000 

323,000 

15,000 

1,200 

11,000 

11  000 

100 

15,000 

60,000 

37,000 

56,000 

65,000 

1,500 

100 


78,000 


230,000 

8,600 

98,000 

9,400 

25,000 

3,400 

34,000 

4,900 

817,000 

28,000 

274,000 

17,000 

9,900 

500 

95,000 

4,800 

22,000 

1,200 

18,000 


(•) 

14,000 

3,200 

600 


101,000 


45,000 
700 

18,000 
5,000 
1,200 
8,000 
5.800 
1,000 

15,000 
1,600 


95,000 


700 

3,900 

16,000 

800 

5,300 

4,400 

11,000 

1,200 

4,000 

10,000 

7,500 

600 

700 

700 

27,000 

600 

1,200 


42,000 


4,000 
700 

6,800 
300 

4,500 
500 

7,900 

11,000 

900 

600 

1,000 
700 

2,600 


'  Includes  Alabama,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Mississippi,  and  Rhode  Island. 
•  Less  than  SIOO. 


CRABS,  HARD. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

California 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Mas.sachu.sotts . . 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. , 

Oregon 

Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. 

Te.tas 

Virginia , 

Washington 


CRABS,  SOFT. 


United  Stetes. 


Delaware 

I.(OUlsiana , 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.. 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Texas 

Virginia 


CRABS,  KINO. 


United  States. 


Delaware. . . 
New  Jersey . 
New  York.. 


CRABS,  STONE. 


United  States. 
Florida 


United  States. 


Louisiana.. 

Oregon 

Wisconsin. 


United  States . 


Coimectlcut 

Delaware 

Maine 

Massachusetts... 
New  Hampshire. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island 


&FINT  LOBSTERS. 


United  States. 


Caliiomla. 
Florida... 


SBBIMF  AND  PRAWN. 


United  states. 


Alabama 

California 

Florida 

Georgia.   

Louisiana 

Massachusetts.. 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina., 
South  Carolina. . 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Washington 


42,612,000 


$553,000 


246,000 
702,000 

57,000 
148,000 
196,000 
244,000 
786,000 
121,000 
380,000 
282.000 
580,000 
113,000 
200,000 
146,000 

33,000 
199,000 
001,000 
179,000 


10,301,000 


6,100 

69,000 

600 

2,900 

7,500 

7,800 

X2t.000 

2,400 

9,800 

9,100 

7,400 

1,100 

6,900 

2,900 

900 

4,800 

239,000 

51,000 


359,000 


142,000 

78,000 

7,587,000 

1.800 

47,000 

63,000 

22,000 

277,000 

600 

2,082,000 


7,643,000 


8,400 

21,000 

195,000 

200 

5,600 

6,200 

2,300 

33,000 

200 

87,000 


23,000 


2,980,000 

4,607,000 

56,000 


62,000 


4,300 

18,000 

100 


3,700 


62,000 


614,000 


3,700 


88,000 
178,000 
348,000 


15,279,000 


3,600 
14,000 
14,000 


1,931,000 


661,000 

S,600 

9,929,000 

2,455,000 

264,000 

115,000 

423,000 

1,425,000 


626,000 


84,000 

800 

1,269,000 

307,000 

43,000 

16,000 

57,000 

152,000 


71,000 


573,000 

69,000 

63,000 

2,600 

19,080,000 

494,000 

37,000 

1,200 

258,000 

31,000 

4,353,000 

92,000 

528,000 

19,000 

8,581,000 

213,000 

5,800 

1,300 

4,121,000 

81,000 

4,900 

1,000 

1,500 

600 

371,000 

9,000 

452,000 

19,000 

1,700 

200 

118,000 

4,400 

247,000 

22,000 

'  Includes  Alabama,  Indiana,  HUnols,  Kansas,  Maine,  Michigan,  Mississippi, 
New  Jersey,  North  Carolina,  Ohio,  Rhode  Island,  Texas,  and  Virginia. 

*  Includes  Indiana,  Maine,  Minnesota,  Missouri,  North  Carolina,  and  Ohio. 


42 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


SPEQES  AND   STATE. 


ABALONE. 

United  States 

Calilomla 

CLAUS,  HAKD. 

United  States 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

New  Jersey 

New  Yorli 

North  Carolina 

Oregon 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Virginia 

Washington 

CLAUS,  SOFT. 

United  States 

California 

Connecticut 

Maine 

Massachusetts 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Oregon 

Rhode  Island 

CLAMS,  RAZOR. 

United  States 

Massachusetts 

Washington 

CLAMS,  SURF. 

United  States 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

OYSTERS. 

Unl  ted  S  tates 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Alabama 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed,  from  public  areas 

California,  market,  from  private  areas 

Connecticut 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Delaware 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Florida,  market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Georgia 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Louisiana 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Maine,  market,  from  public  areas 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,005,000 


1,005,000 


7,805,000 


132,000 

100,000 

6,900 

239,000 

43,000 
100 

82,000 
119,000 
184,000 
809,000 
72U,000 
700 
162,000 

76,000 
969,000 
155,000 


8,654,000 


468,000 

42,000 

5,061,000 

1,910,000 

205,000 

656,000 

30,000 

275,000 


24,000 
234,000 


99,000 
167,000 


233,309,000 


178,293,000 
103,641,000 
74,652,000 
55,016,000 
26,960,000 
28,056,000 


25 
20 
13, 
7, 
4 
4, 


132,000 
754,000 
314,000 
440,000 
378,000 
729,000 
636,000 
702,000 

44,000 
718,000 
874,000 
478,000 
396,000 
434,000 
082,000 
177,000 
905,000 
352,000 
303,000 

49,000 
407,000 
327,000 
141,000 
214,000 
053,000 
484,000 
569,000 
161,000 

03,000 

98.000 
553,000 
762,000 
303.000 
399,000 
791,000 
091,000 
700,000 
1,000 


Value. 


S16.000 


16,000 


1,317,000 


4,500 

20,000 

1,300 

15,000 

9,400 

(') 

16,000 

189,000 

318,000 

223, 000 

82,000 

100 

39,000 

6,300 

380,000 

13,000 


653,000 


5,300 

5,500 

251,000 

180,000 

11,000 

54,000 

2,000 

38,000 


25,000 


3,600 
22,000 


21,000 


7,000 
14,000 


15,713,000 


12,721,000 
4,416,000 
8,305,000 
2,992,000 
1,035,000 
1,957,000 

173,000 

169,000 

132,000 

37,000 

4,100 

337,000 

2,583,000 

1,168,000 

4,400 

1,163,000 

1,415,000 

99,000 

1,317,000 

169,000 

112,000 

10,000 

102,000 

57,000 

53,000 

3,500 

296,000 

284,000 

12,000 

339,000 

334,000 

121,000 

213,000 

4,000 

1,800 

2,800 

763,000 

675,000 

341,000 

334,000 

88,000 

82,000 

6,200 

200 


SPECIE.S   AND  STATE. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


OYSTERS — continued. 

Maryland 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed,  from  public  areas 

Massachusetts 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Mississippi,  market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

New  Jersey 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

New  York 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

North  Carolina : 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas , 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Oregon 

Market , 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed,  from  public  areas 

Pennsylvania 

Market,  from  private  areas 

Seed,  from  puBlic  areas 

Rhode  Island 

Market,  from  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

South  Carolina,  market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Texas 

Mark  et 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed,  from  public  areas 

Virginia 

Market 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

Washington 

Market,  from  private  areas 

Seed,  from  private  areas 


SCALLOPS  AND  SCALLOP  KIMS. 

United  States 


Florida 

Maine 

Massachusetts, 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . . 
Virginia 


COCKLES,  WINKLES,  AND  CONCHS. 

United  States 


Florida 

Louisiana 

Massachusetts. 
Rhode  Island . . 


United  States. 


California 

Connecticut 

Massachusetts. 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . . 


624,000 

811,000 

718,000 

094,000 

812,000 

084,000 

868,000 

4,900 

863,000 

216,000 

43,000 

173,000 

473,000 

423,000 

50,000 

105,000 

437,000 

107,000 

330,000 

668,000 

,402,000 

,266,000 

,244,000 

,946,000 

151,000 

,795,000 

,298,000 

628,000 

,670,000 

,690.000 

,275,000 

,209.000 

66,000 

415,000 

401,000 

14,000 

9,100 

7,300 

2,300 

5,000 

1,800 

,938,000 

906,000 

,032,000 

;,  602, 000 

;,  564, 000 

38,000 

21,000 

18,000 

1,942,000 

1,331,000 

610,000 

;, 481, 000 

;,  428, 000 

1,404,000 

24,000 

52,000 

1,525,000 

,705,000 

1,581,000 

,124,000 

1,820,000 

1,252,000 

568,000 

,425,0(X) 

,321,000 

104,000 


2,432,000 


400 

100 

1,2,57,000 

96,000 

602,000 

120,000 

650,000 

98,000 

4.000 

600 

19,000 

2,400 

146,000 


16,000 

200 

130,000 

1,500 

8,542,000 

1,000 

0) 
34,000 
200 

12,000 

68,000 

7,200 

1,100 

287,000 

8,175,000 

3,500 

1,600 

200 

100 

1,400 

8,200 

100 

$2,228,000 

2.127,000 

2,041,000 

86,000 

101,000 

218,000 

203,000 

900 

202,000 

15,000 

3,100 

12,000 

295,000 

292,000 

3,800 

1,369,000 

884,000 

12,000 

872,000 

485,000 

236,000 

248,000 

2,553,000 

2,173,000 

18,000 

2,155,000 

381,000 

46,000 

336,000 

236,000 

227,000 

220,000 

7,300 

8,800 

8,600 

300 

4,200 

4,000 

800 

3,200 

200 

176,000 

134,000 

42,000 

969,000 

967,000 

2,500 

1,500 

1,000 

137,000 

129,000 

8,000 

168,000 

107,000 

166,000 

1,200 

600 

2,348,000 

1,967,000 

646,000 

1,322,000 

381,000 

367,000 

24,000 

392,000 

346,000 

6,500 


317,000 


36,000 


1  Less  than  tlOO. 


PRODUCTS. 

Table  5.— PRODUCTS— DETAIL   SUMMARY  BY   STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    190&— Continued. 


48 


SPEaES  AtfD  STATE. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


SPEaES  AND  STATE. 


Quantity 
(lK)uncls): 


Value. 


MUSSEL  SHELLS. 


United  States. 


Arkansas 

Connecticut. 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kentuciiy... 

MIchiRan 

Minnesota. . . 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Tennessee. . . 
Wisconsin... 


OTHEB  SHELLS. 


United  States. 


California. 
Florida... 


FEAHL3  AND  SLUGS. 


United  States. 


Arlcansas. . 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kentuelcy. 
Minnesota. 
Missouri... 

Ohio 

Tennessee.. 
Wisconsin. 


United  States. 


California 

Connecticut 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. 

New  Jersey 

New  Yorlc 

Rhode  Island.. 


United  States. 


Alabama... 
Delaware.. , 
Florida. . . . 

Oeorgia 

Illinois 

Louisiana. . 
Maryland.. 
Mi.ssissippi. 
Missouri. 


New  Jersey 

North  Carolina.. 
South  Carolina. . 

Texas 

Virginia 


United  States . 


California 

Delaware 

Florida 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Minnesota 

North  Carolina... 

Ohio 

Texas 

VirRinia 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states '  . 


United  States. 


Florida. 


81,869,000 


060,000 
403,000 
809,000 
431,000 
699,000 
413,000 
200,000 
767,000 
170,000 
597,000 
170,000 
150,000 


952,000 


951,000 
300 


2,562,000 


110,000 

21,000 

6,100 

6,900 

1,837,000 

100,000 

189,000 

292,000 


368,000 


4,400 

2,900 

21,000 

41,000 

205,000 

41,000 

9,200 

6,100 

1,900 

1,100 

7,700 

12,000 

15,000 

400 


1,088,000 


38,000 

64,000 

16.i,000 

306,000 

93,000 

215,000 

1,400 

25,000 

2:5,000 

18,000 

20,000 

24,000 

44,000 

63,000 


622,000 


622,000 


$392,000 


42,000 

£,400 

184,000 

81,000 

33,000 

18,000 

800 

4,700 

1,000 

6,600 

9,400 

6,900 


8,400 


7,100 
1,300 


$300,000 


28,000 

170,000 

74,000 

11,000 

1,900 

3,700 

600 

400 

4,200 

5,400 


43,000 


4,400 
400 

200 

20,000 

3,100 

8,100 

6,000 


80,000 


300 

1,900 

9,400 

21,000 

13,000 

21,000 

4,900 

1,200 

100 

1,000 

1,800 

2,400 

1,600 

400 


40,000 


1,300 

2,500 

11,000 

8,100 

1,800 

7,800 

600 

(>00 

700 

900 

1,000 

500 

1,000 

1,700 


545,000 


545,000 


1  Less  than  tlOO. 

'  Includes  Alabama,  -\ricansas,  Georgia,  Kontuciry,  Maryland,  Massachusetts, 
Mississippi,  Missouri,  New  Jersey,  and  New  Yoric. 


SKINS,   SEAL. 


United  States . 


Connecticut. 
Maine , 


HIDES,   ALUGATOE. 

United  States 


Florida 

Louisiana 

South  Carolina. 
Texas 


HIDES,   PORPOISK. 


United  States. 
North  Carolina 


SKINS,   MINK. 


United  States. 


Illinois 

Louisiana 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

All  other  states  >  , 


SKINS,   MUSKRAT. 


United  States. 


Delaware , 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Louisiana 

Mar>'iand 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 


SKINS,   OTTEE. 


United  States. 


Florida 

Georgia '. . 

Louisiana 

All  other  states  * . 


WHALEBONE. 


United  states. 


California 

Connecticut 

Massachusetts. . . 
North  Carolina  . 


United  States. 


Maine 

Massachusetts.. 


United  States. 


Fresh., 
Salted. 


Maine 

Fresh 

Salted 

Massachusetts. . 


United  States. 


Maine 

Massachusetts. . 


United  States. 


on.,  PORPOISE. 


Maine 

North  Carolina.. 


3,100 


1,400 
1,600 


372,000 


254,000 
110,000 

100 
7,000 


48,000 


48,000 


22,000 


1,900 

20,000 

200 

400 

300 


149,000 


22,000 

17,000 

1,400 

40,000 

38,000 

300 

1,700 

9,800 

3,000 

100 

500 

14,000 

300 

1,000 


7,600 


5,700 

700 

1,100 


« 


63,000 


32,000 

1,700 

30,000 

200 

657,000 


52,000 
606,000 

96,000 


93,000 
2,800 

23,000 

20,000 

2,800 

73,000 


221,000 


83,000 
138,000 

29,000 


8,000 
21,000 


t8,200 


6,000 
2,200 


61,000 


48,000 
11,000 
(') 
1,400 


1,000 


1,000 
89,000 


6,000 
77,000 
1,100 
3,100 
1,700 


136,000 


24,000 

14,000 

800 

16,000 

50,000 

400 

1,200 

12,000 

2,300 

C) 

800 

14,000 

300 

600 


30,000 

21,000 

3,600 

4,700 

300 


215,000 


119,000 

7,200 

89,000 

300 


600 
6,900 

4,100 


4,000 
100 

1,000 
900 
100 

3,100 

9,500 


3,600 
5,900 

3,000 


800 
2,200 


'  Includes  Iowa,  North  Carolina,  Ohio,  Texas,  Virginia,  and  Wisconsin. 
*  Includes  ."Vrkansa-s,  Maryland,  Missouri,  North  Carolina,  and  Virginia. 
«  Less  tliau  100  pounds. 


44 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— PRODUCTS— DETAIL  SUMMARY  BY  STATES  AND  BY  SPECIES:    1908— Continued. 


SPEQES  iNI>   STATE. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

SPEOES  AND  STATE. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

■Value. 

OIL,  SEA-ELEPHANT. 

88,000 

$3,600 

OIL,  WUALE. 

873,000 

t30,000 

88,000 
4,000 

3,600 
400 

13,000 

553,000 

7,500 

772,000 

900 

Ma.s8achu9etta ... 

400 

United  states 

raisn  MOSS. 

Maine 

4,000 
3,391,000 

400 
252,000 

20,000 

Massachusetts 

on.,  SPERif. 

737,000 
35,000 

252,000 

25,000 

United  States 

1,400 

SEA   GRASS. 

United  states.                    .             

California 

169,000 

280,000 

28.000 

2,913,000 

12,000 

20,000 

1.900 

218.000 

Connecticut.                                                             .  .     .  . 

1,700 

Maryland 

Massachusetts .             

252,000 

1,700 

Table  6.— PRODUCTS,  BY  APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE  AND  BY  STATES:  1908. 


KIND  or  APPARATUS  AND  STATE. 


FTKE  AND  HOOP  NETS. 

United  States 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Oeoreia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mls.slssippl 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York '. 

North  Carolina 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania 

Khode  Island 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states.  .^ 


GILL  NETS. 

United  States 

Alabama 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina 

Ohio , 

Oregon 

Penn.sylvania 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

▲II  Other  states 


nsHERY  products:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


38,050,000 


386,000 
286,000 
218,000 
112,000 
165,000 
4,000 
8,600 
370,000 
284,000 
625,000 
122,000 
758,000 
769,000 

52,000 
556.000 

61,000 
766,000 
538,000' 
449,000 
951.000 
231.000 
714.000 
201.000 
6,300 
241.000 
159,000 

72.000 
279.000 
449,000 
229,000 


181,224,000 


35,000 
427.000 
180,000 
075.000 
803.000 
721.000 
902.000 
285.000 

24.000 
404.000 
0:iS.000 
SS5.000 
240.000 
991.000 
515.000 
412.000 
733.000 
400.000 
849.000 
659.000 
693,000 
506.000 
151.000 
489.000 
202.000 
481.000 

44,000 


Value. 


$1,218,000 


24,000 
63,000 
62,000 

5,000 

7,300 

300 

400 

330,000 

16,000 

30,000 

47,000 

32,000 

39,000 

2,200 
94,000 

2,800 
40,000 
88,000 
22,000 
86,000 

8,600 
51.000 

9,000 
300 

5,800 
45,000 

2,600 
47,000 
64,000 
15,000 


7,536,000 


1,200 

769,000 

20,000 

85,000 

1,133.000 

213.000 

51.000 

18,000 

900 

56,000 

174.000 

393.000 

715.000 

50.000 

310.000 

246.000 

376.000 

3-30.000 

1,076,000 

235.000 

21,000 

43,000 

7.000 

205,000 

408.000 

533.000 

1,400 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS  AND  STATE. 


POUND  NETS,  TRAP  NETS,  AND  V'EIKS. 

United  states 


Arkansas 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

lUhiois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Mas.sachusetts. . . 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina.. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island... 

Tennes.sec 

VU-ginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states.. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansa-^ 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts. . 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  Jersey .... 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania.., 
Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

Wa-shington 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states.. 


FISHERY  products:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


314,031,000 


275.000 

1,629.000 

11.000 

295.000 

277.000 

32,000 

293,000 

321.000 

36.000 

69,621.000 

27,105.000 

18,641.000 

19.299.000 

1,198,000 

61.000 

20.000 

30,285,000 

11,006,000 

14,040.000 

9,783.000 

353.000 

322.000 

19,406.000 

74,000 

52,560,000 

28,860,000 

8,089.000 

129,000 


573,405,000 


150,000 

692,000 

6,892,000 

29,398,000 

64,091,000 

20,400,000 

549,000 

15,945.000 

70.000 

1,877.000 

247.000 

12,496,000 

27,877.000 

17,983,000 

25,397.000 

2,051.000 

1,884.000 

8,118.000 

1,915,000 

9,649,000 

18,178.000 

71,069.000 

5,781.000 

2,987,000 

722.000 

10.648.000 

567,000 

223,000 

3,655,000 

191,633.000 

14,932.000 

4.995,000 

33'),  000 


Value. 


$5,641,000 


7,100 

43,000 

400 

18,000 

14,000 

1,200 

18,000 

11,000 

800 

357,000 

321.000 

266,000 

550,000 

44.000 

1.200 

1,100 

539,000 

417,000 

391.000 

308,000 

18.000 

13.000 

388.  OOO 

2,400 

833.000 

868.000 

208.000 

2,200 


5,999,000 


4,400 

21.000 

116.000 

116.000 

219.000 

606.000 

38,000 

4C)0.000 

4.200 

68.000 

12.000 

400.000 

171.000 

12S.00O 

806.000 

55.000 

53.000 

108.000 

68.000 

108.000 

327.000 

591.000 

105.000 

1,52,000 

22,000 

40.000 

16.000 

K  700 

153,000 

631,000 

333,000 

143,000 

18,000 


PRODUCTS. 

Table  6.— PRODUCTS,  BY  APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE  AND  BY  STATES:  190&-Continued. 


45 


KIND  or  APPARATUS  AND  STATE. 


TKAHUEL  NETS. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Florida 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maryland 

Minjiesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Ohio 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states. 


OTHER  NETS  (DIP,  LIFT,  CAST,  ETC.). 

United  States 


Arkansas. . 
California. 
Delaware . . 
Florida.... 
Georgia... 

Illinois 

Indiana... 
Louisiana. 
Maine. 


Maryland 

Massachusetts. . 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Pennsylvania.. 
South  "Carolina., 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 


BEAM  TRAWLS. 


United  States. 


Massachusetts. 

New  York 

Rhode  Island . . 
Washington . . . 


HARPOONS,   SPE.^RS,  ETC. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Iowa 

Maine ., 

Marj'land 

Massachusetts. . 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Penasylvania.. 
Rhode  Island . . , 
South  Carolina. 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Wisconsin , 


LINES  (HAND,  TRAWL,  AND  SET). 


United  States. 


Alabama 

.^rkansa.s . . . . 

California 

Connecticut. 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 


KISHEBY  products;   1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


15,708,000 


271,000 

129,000 

951,000 

792,000 

100,000 

087,000 

9,600 

71,000 

12,000 

42,000 

839,000 

052,000 

439,000 

275,000 

79,000 

261,000 

249,000 


23,582,000 


5,000 

,739,000 

160,000 

754,000 

197,000 

35,000 

12,000 

404,000 

,422,000 

,85.3,000 

,949,000 

3,100 

102,000 

117,000 

144,000 

920,000 

19,000 

205,000 

552,000 

261,000 

828,000 

900,000 

11,000 


3,752,000 


Value. 


2,972,000 

268,000 

4%,  000 

15,000 


7,679,000 


14,000 

20,000 

214,000 

533,000 

23,000 

119,000 

2,200 

68,000 

55,000 

539,000 

800 

i,  262, 000 

100,000 

46,000 

28,000 

22,000 

9,200 

108,000 

51,000 

9,200 

6,000 

325,000 

3,900 

64,000 

31,000 

25,000 


343,960,000 


553,000 
081,000 
136,000 
100,000 
206,000 
747,000 
810,000 
242,000 
132,000 
200,000 


$486,000 


58,000 
3,900 

52,000 

27,000 
151,000 

40,000 

400 

5,800 

1,200 

900 

57,000 

40,000 
9,400 
7,600 
4,000 
7,200 

15,000 


553,000 


100 

121,000 

11,000 

25,000 

9,400 

1,800 

900 

33,000 

35,000 

63,000 

87,000 

300 

2,700 

10,000 

9,300 

57,000 

1,000 

12,000 

25,000 

7,200 

29,000 

12,000 

600 


90,000 


06,000 
9,400 

14,000 
1,100 


762,000 


700 

1,600 

132,000 

43,000 

2,000 

6,100 

100 

1,800 

1,400 

48,000 

100 
465,000 
5,800 
1,600 
1,500 
3,600 

800 
8,800 
2,800 
9,700 

500 
19,000 

200 
2,000 
1,700 
1,000 


9,360,000 


120,000 
48,000 

212,000 

41,000 

6,100 

617,000 
74,000 
56,000 
11,000 
12,000 


KIND   OP  APPARATUS  AND  STATE. 


LINES  (HAND,  TRAWL,  AND  SET)— Continued. 


Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.. 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. . 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states. 


POTS  AND  TRAPa. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

California 

Connecticut. 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 


Iowa. 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.. 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania... 
Rhode'  Island . . . 

Tenne-ssee 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states. 


WHEELS  AND  SLIDES. 


United  States. 


North  Carolina. 

Oregon 

Washington 


DREDGES,  TONO.S,  RAKES,  ETC. 


United  States. 


Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware 

Florida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Iowa 

KenLiicky 

lx)nislana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts.. 

Michigan 

Minnesota , 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina. . 

Ohio 

Oregon 

Pennsylvania... 
Rhode  Island... 
South  Carolina. . 

Tennessee 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 

All  other  states.. 


nsHERY  products:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


5, 
55, 
11, 
161, 


1, 
1, 

2, 
15, 
35, 

1, 


598,000 
329,000 
287,000 
491,000 

,888,000 
855,000 
420,000 
022,000 
970,000 

,382,000 
752,000 
574,000 
118,000 
54,000 
970,000 

,828,000 
388,000 
540,000 
712,000 
106,000 
013,000 
133,000 
314,000 


23,979,000 


107,000 

,270,000 

712,000 

196,000 

622,000 

5,700 

32,000 

1,500 

142,000 

,371,000 

219,000 

,830,000 

300 

5,700 

138,000 

10,000 

302,000 

915,000 

244,000 

4,500 

359,000 

61,000 

,670,000 

1,700 

48,000 

,179,000 

349,000 

284,000 


1,958,000 


123,000 

1,355.000 

481,000 


356,990,000 


.132,000 
.060.000 
729.000 
,189.000 
,441.000 
,506.000 
,267.000 
,809.000 
431,000 
,699.000 
413.000 
.SSi.OOO 
310.000 
250.000 
363.000 
200.000 
743,000 
473.000 
170.000 
049.000 
749,000 
907,000 
597,000 

5S.000 
938,000 
767,000 
014,000 
170,000 
468,000 
954,000 
425,000 
130,000 

35,000 


Value. 


$30,000 

203,000 

963,000 

124,000 

3,930,000 

52,000 

22,000 

40,000 

46,000 

332,000 

442,000 

21,000 

7,700 

2,200 

49,000 

65,000 

69,000 

32,000 

101,000 

190,000 

1,368,000 

92,000 

13,000 


2,589,000 


6,100 

137,000 

89,000 

37,000 

47,000 

4,100 

21,000 

1,200 

100,000 

,291,000 

60,000 

325,000 

400 

2,800 

11,000 

15,000 

34,000 

95,000 

a,  500 

4,500 

20,000 

5,400 

163,000 

200 

2,500 

61,000 

15,000 

44,000 


100.000 


1,900 
72,000 
26,000 


18,772,000 


173,000 

70,000 

337,000 

2,614,000 

170,000 

304,000 

348,000 

3,15,000 

155.000 

44,000 

20,000 

763.000 

347.000 

2,,393.000 

741.000 

800 

8,300 

295,000 

1,600 

1,703,000 

2,964,000 

307,000 

7,000 

7,200 

176,000 

1,008,000 

143,000 

14,000 

167,000 

2,781,000 

352,000 

12,000- 

1,400 


46 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— PRODUCTS,  BY  APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE  AND  BY  STATES:  1908— Continued. 


KDJD  or  APPARATUS  AND  STATE. 


nSHEEY  PBODUCTS:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS  AND  STATE. 


FISHERY  products:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


MINOR  APPARATUS. 

United  States 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

California 

Connecticut 

Delaware - . 

Florida 

Illinois 

Louisiana 

Maine 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 


9,138,000 


$925,000 


17,000 

19.000 

1,902,000 

89,000 

2,400,000 

1,145,000 

25,000 

292,000 

11,000 

74,000 

75,000 


600 

2,900 

33,000 

9,600 

3,000 

005,000 

6,800 

30,000 

400 

2,700 

14.000 


MINOR  APPARATUS — Continued. 

Minnesota 

Missouri 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

North  Carolina 

Oiiio 

Rhode  Island 

South  Carolina 

Texas 

Virginia 

Washington 

Wisconsin 


86,000 

47,000 

70,000 

400 

530,000 

3,400 

280,000 

14.0C0 

20,000 

1,617,000 

389,000 

31,000 


17,000 

7,500 

9,900 

100 

14,000 
600 

39,000 
2,300 
2,100 

97,000 

34,000 
2,300 


CHAPTER  TI. 
PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


Nearly  seven-eighths  of  the  value  of  fishery  products 
of  the  United  States  in  1908  was  represented  by  30 
kinds  of  products.  Detailed  statistics  for  these 
classes,  and  also  for  a  few  of  the  minor  products  of 
general  interest,  are  presented  in  this  chapter.  The 
products  here  considered  are  the  following: 


Alewives. 

Herring. 

Salmon. 

Bluefish. 

Lake  herring. 

Shad. 

Buffalo  fish. 

Lake  trout. 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Carp. 

Lobster. 

Skins. 

Catfishes. 

Lobster,  spiny. 

Snappers. 

Clams. 

Mackerel. 

Sponges. 

Cod. 

Menhaden. 

Squeteague. 

Crabs. 

Mullets. 

Sturgeons. 

Flounders. 

Mussels. 

Whale  products. 

Haddock. 

Oysters. 

Whitefish. 

Hake. 

Pike  perches. 

Halibut. 

Pollack. 

Alewives  (Pomolobus  psendoharengus  and  P.  sesti- 
valis). — These  two  species  of  fish  are  generally  known 
indiscriminately  as  alewives,  and  are  found  in  waters 
adjacent  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  P.  psevdoTiarengus  is 
never  found  south  of  the  Neuse  River,  in  North  Caroling. 
It  is  known  along  the  Potomac  as  "branch  herring," 
on  Albemarle  Sound  as  the  "  big-ej'ed  herring  "  and  the 
"wall-eyed  herring,"  in  New  England  as  "  alewife,"  and 
on  the  Connecticut  River  as"ellwife"  and  "ellwhop." 
It  appears  in  the  rivers  three  or  four  weeks  earlier 
than  the  "glut  herring"  and  the  shad.  P.  aestivalis  is 
found  from  the  Carolinas  to  the  coast  of  Maine.  It  is 
known  in  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Albemarle  Sound  as 
"glut  herring,"  in  the  Ogeechee  River  as  "English  her- 
ring," in  the  St.  Johns  River  as  "herring,"  and  in  Massa- 
chusetts and  during  the  later  runs  in  the  Rappahannock 
as  the  "blueback."  It  is  also  known  as  "blackbelly," 
"sawbelly,"  and  "kyack."  This  species  is  less  abun- 
dant and  much  less  valuable  as  a  food  fish  than  P. 
psendoharengus .  Both  species  average  about  a  half 
pound  in  weight  and  from  8  to  10  inches  in  length. 
They  are  caught  in  nets,  seines,  weirs,  etc.,  and  besides 
being  of  great  importance  as  food  fish,  are  also  used 
for  bait.  The  name  "alemfe"  is  applied  to  the  men- 
haden in  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia. 

The  value  of  the  alewife  catch  in  1908  was  $589,000, 
and  constituted  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the 
fishery  products  of  the  United  States.  Over  three- 
fourths  of  this  amount  represented  the  value  of  fish 
disposed  of  fresh  and  22  per  cent  the  value  of  those 


which  were  salted,  while  the  remainder  was  the  value 
of  a  few  which  were  smoked.  Although  alewives  were 
taken  in  every  state  on  the  Atlantic  coast  except 
South  CaroHna,  three  states — Virginia,  Maryland,  and 
North  Carolina — reported  80  per  cent  of  the  value  and 
86  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  the  total  alewife  catch. 
The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  statistics 
of  the  catch,  by  states: 


ALEWIFE  PEODUCT:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

89,978,000 

100 

S589,000 

100 

Virginia 

37,885,000 
28,805,000 
10,928,000 
12,361,000 

42 
32 
12 
14 

171,000 
157,000 
140,000 
121,000 

29 

Maryland 

27 

North  Carolina.   .. 

24 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  are  given  com- 
parative statistics  of  the  catch  of  alewives  for  a  series 
of  years.  Between  1892  and  1908  no  figures  for  the 
entire  product  in  any  one  year  are  available,  but  the 
returns  for  the  New  England  states  in  1898  have  been 
combined  with  those  for  the  Middle  Atlantic  and  the 
South  Atlantic  states  in  1897,  while  the  results  from 
the  canvass  of  the  New  England  states  for  1905,  the 
Middle  Atlantic  states  for  1904,  and  the  South  Atlantic 
states  for  1902,  have  been  similarly  combined.  This 
course  has  been  followed  in  presenting  the  figures  for 
other  classes  of  products  when  returns  are  not  avail- 
able for  the  catch  of  all  districts  in  any  one  year. 


ALEWTFE  PEODUCT. 

YXAB. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

89,978,000 
62,062,000 
99,027,000 
69,170,000 
66,168,000 
45,684,000 

$589,000 

190.2-1 905 

474,000 

435,000 

1897-98 

1892 

655,000 
601,000 

1888 

1880... 

527,000 

A  considerable  increase  is  apparent  in  the  qufintity 
"of  the  product  in   1908,   as  compared  with  that  of 
previous  years^     At  the  same  time  there  has  been  an 
increase  in  value,  although  this  has  not  been  com- 
mensurate with  the  increase  in  quantity. 

(47) 


48 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  catch  taken  by  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus 
of  capture  was  as  follows: 


ALEWUE  product:  1908. 

KIKD  or  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

89,978,000 

100 

t589,000 

100 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  wolrs — 

66,369,000 
18,928,000 
2,211,000 
2,409,000 

74 

21 

2 

3 

372,000 
166,000 
20,000 
31,000 

63 
28 

Gill  nets 

3 

Another  .            

5 

Of  the  total  alewife  catch,  74  per  cent,  or  nearly 
three-fourths,  representing  63  per  cent,  or  a  little  less 
than  two-thirds  of  the  total  value,  was  taken  by 
pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs,  and  21  per  cent,  rep- 
resenting 28  per  cent  of  the  total  value,  by  seines. 
Thus  95  per  cent  of  the  catch,  representing  91  per 
cent  of  the  value,  was  taken  by  these  two  classes  of 
apparatus. 

Eluejlsh  (PomaUymus  saltatrix). — This  fish  is  found 
on  the  Atlantic  and  the  Gulf  coasts.  On  the  coast 
of  the  New  England  and  Middle  states  it  is  gen- 
erally called  "bluefish;"  in  Khode  Island,  "horse 
mackerel;"  south  of  Cape  Hatteras,  "skip  jack;"  in 
North  Carolina,  Virginia,  and  Maryland,  "tailor"  and 
"greenfish;"  and  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  "bluefish." 
Yoimg  bluefish  are  called  "snapping  mackerel," 
"snappers,"  and  "salt-water  tailors"  in  Virginia  and 
Maryland;  "blue  snappers"  about  New  Bedford;  and 
"skip  mackerel"  about  New  York.  The  bluefish 
varies  in  weight  from  1  to  20  pounds,  according  to  the 
season  and  locality,  and  large  nximbers  are  caught 
during  the  summer  months  with  nets,  traps,  seines, 
and  hand  lines. 

The  name  "bluefish"  is  also  improperly  applied  to 
the  squeteague  from  southern  New  Jersey  to  Virginia, 
to  the  black  sea  bass  at  Newport  and  New  Bedford, 
to  the  "greenfish"  on  the  California  coast  south  of 
Monterey,  and  to  the  "bonito"  in  the  markets. 

The  value  of  the  bluefish  catch  in  1908  was  $506,000, 
or  slightly  less  than  1  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all 
fishery  products.  This  fish  was  taken  in  every  coast 
state  from  Rhode  Island  to  Texas,  but  only  a  small 
quantity  was  taken  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Of  the 
total  value  of  the  catch,  over  one-half  was  reported  by 
the  fisheries  of  New  York.  Except  for  insignificant 
amoimts  salted  in  Florida  and  North  Carolina,  the 
catch  was  sold  fresh.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  statistics  of  the  bluefish  catch  for  the 
leading  states  reporting  this  species: 


BLUEFISH  product:  1908. 

STATI. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

7,647,000 

100 

1506,000 

100 

New  York 

3,191,000 

1,850,000 

1,256,000 

952,000 

242,000 

155.000 

42 
24 
16 
12 
3 
2 

291,000 
99,000 
45,000 
45,000 
14,000 
12,000 

SS 

New  Jersey .          

20 

9 

Florida           

9 

3 

All  other  states 

2 

Statistics  of  the  product  of  the  bluefish  fisheries  for 
previous  years  for  which  data  are  available  are  given 
in  the  following  statement.  The  figures  for  the 
periods  1890-1892,  1897-98,  and  1902-1904  were 
obtained  in  the  manner  explained  on  page  47. 


BLUEFISH  PRODUCT. 

TSAS. 

Quantity 

(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

7,647,000 
16,576,000 
22,461,000 
18,479,000 
13,480,000 

$506,000 
782,000 
730,000 
735,000 

1902-1905 

1897-98 ... 

1889-1892 

1888 

669,000 

The  quantity  and  value  of  the  catch  of  1908  were 
the  smallest  on  record.  The  distribution  of  the  blue- 
fish catch  by  apparatus  of  capture  was  as  follows : 


BLUEFISH  product:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Vllue. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

7,647,000 

100 

$506,000 

100 

Lines 

3,781.000 

2,029,000 

1,221.000 

634,000 

61,000 

21,000 

16 
}               1 

307,000 

109,000 

54.000 

33,000 

/          2,700 

\          1,100 

61 

Gill  nets 

22 

11 

Pound  and  trap  nets.. 

7 

}              > 

Buffalo  JisJi. — Under  this  general  name  are  included 
three  species,  red  or  big-mouthed  buffalo  (Idiohus 
cyprineUa),  black  or  mongrel  buffalo  (/.  uriis),  and 
small-mouthed  or  white  buffalo  (/.  huhalus).  These 
fresh-water  suckers,  to  which  the  name  "buffalo  carp" 
is  sometimes  erroneously  applied,  are  found  in  the 
waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  They  frequently 
weigh  from  30  to  40  pounds  and  are  caught  Avith  nets 
and  hand  lines.  The  value  of  the  catch  in  1908  was 
$498,000,  or  less  than  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
fishery  products  for  the  United  States.     In  the  fisher- 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


49 


ies  of  the  Mississippi  River  ami  its  tributaries,  liowever, 
this  fish  raniietl  second  in  importance,  contributing  15 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of 
that  district.  Ninety-one  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  buffalo-fish  product  represented  that  caught 
in  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries.  The 
following  tabular  statement  shows  the  catch,  by 
geographic  divisions: 


BtJITALO-FISH  PKODUCT:  1908. 

DIVISIOK. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

16,729,000 

100 

$498,000 

100 

Mississippi  River  division 

15,040,000 

1,683,000 

6,200 

90 
10 
(') 

455,000 

43,000 

200 

91 

9 

Great  Lal^es  division 

(') 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Nineteen  states  reported  a  catch  of  buffalo  fish. 
Statistics  concerning  the  product  of  the  leading  states 
are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


-  BurrALO-FisH  product:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Founds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

16,729,000 

100 

$498,000 

100 

Illinois 

3,042,000 
3,178,000 
2,626,000 
2,051,000 
1,604,000 
993,000 
3,175,000 

18 
19 
16 
12 
10 
6 
1» 

117,000 
103,000 

50,000 
43,000 
34,000 
30,000 
121,000 

23 

Wisconsin                  .  .        

21 

10 

Aricansas                  

9 

7 

Missouri..             

6 

Ail  other  states 

24 

The  yield  in  1908  was  the  most  valuable  on  record, 
antl,  although  smaller  in  quantity  than  those  of  some 
earlier  years,  it  was  larger  than  in  1903,  a  fact  which 
indicates  a  recovery  from  the  downward  movement  of 
the  previous  decade.  Since  the  Mississippi  River 
product  represented  91  per  cent  of  the  total  value  in 
1908  and  has  always  contributed  at  least  this  propor- 
tion, the  catch  of  buffalo  fish  from  that  division  affords 
a  good  basis  of  comparison  between  1908  and  previous 
years.  The  statistics  concerning  the  catch  of  buffalo 
fish  from  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries  in 
1894,  1899,  1903,  and  1908  are  therefore  given  in  the 
following  tabular  statement: 


TKAB. 

BUFFALO-FISH     PROD- 
UCT OF  THE    MLSSIS- 
SIPPI     KIVER      DIVI- 
SION, 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

I9as  .                                     

15,040,000 
11,492,000 
14,216,000 
17,584,000 

$455,000 

1903                                                                                      

312,000 

1899 

350,000 

1894 

419,000 

During  the  entire  period  for  which  statistics  are 
available  the  average  price  has  been  slowly  but  steadily 
increasing. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  quantity 
and  value  of  buffalo  fish  taken  by  the  different  kinds 
of  apparatus: 


BtWFALO-FISH  PRODUCT:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

16,729,000 

100 

$498,000 

100 

7,138,000 

6,502,000 

1,260,000 

828,000 

812,000 

189,000 

43 
39 
8 

5 
5 

1 

218,000 

179,000 

41,000 

29,000 

23,000 

7,400 

44 

Fylce  and  hoop  nets 

36 

g 

6 

5 

Ail  other 

1 

Carf  {Cyprinus  carpio). — This  fish,  known  as  "Ger- 
man carp,"  is  a  fresh-water  food  fish  of  great  interest 
to  fish-culturists,  and  is  found  in  ponds  and  streams  in 
nearly  every  state  of  the  union.  As  a  result  of  domes- 
tication several  varieties  have  arisen,  of  which  the 
principal  ones  are  the  "scale  carp,"  heavily  scaled; 
the  "mirror  carp,"  with  a  few  series  of  very  large 
scales;  and  the  "leather  carp,"  which  is  scaleless. 
The  size  of  the  carp  varies  with  the  temperature  and 
clearness  of  the  water,  the  kind  of  bottom,  the  abun- 
dance and  nature  of  the  food  supply,  and  in  general 
with  the  conditions  under  which  it  lives.  These  fish 
live  to  a  great  age,  and  sometimes  attain  a  weight  of 
more  than  40  pounds.  The  carp  naturally  tlirives 
best  in  lakes,  ponds,  and  sluggish  streams,  seeking 
quiet  or  stagnant  waters.  It  spawns  about  June.  It 
feeds  largely  on  vegetable  matter,  insects  and  their 
larvae,  found  on  aquatic  vegetation,  forming  its  prin- 
cipal animal  food.  It  will,  however,  eat  practically 
anything  it  can  get  into  its  mouth,  rooting  about  in 
the  mud  much  in  the  same  way  as  a  pig;  and  it  also, 
at  times,  feeds  while  swimming  near  the  surface,  eating 
insects  and  their  larvae  and  other  floating  substances. 
The  carp  is  said  to  eat  neither  fish  nor  their  spawn, 
but,  on  the  other  hand,  young  carp  are  preyed  upon 
by  bass  and  other  predaceous  fishes. 

Certain  species  of  carp,  familiarly  known  as  min- 
nows, chubs,  shiners,  and  dace,  also  are  found  in 
the  fresh  waters  of  the  United  States,  but  the  Ger- 
man carp  {Cyprinus  carpio)  is  not  indigenous  to  this 
country.  Originally  a  native  of  Central  Asia,  the 
carp  was  gradually  introduced  into  Europe,  and  early 
in  the  thirteenth  century  was  brought  into  Germany, 
where  it  became  a  favorite  food  fish.  It  was  not 
introduced  into  the  United  States  with  a  view  to 
propagation  until  1877,  when  Mr.  Hassel,  of  the 
United  States  Fish  Commission,  brought  over  a  num- 
ber of  carp  from  Germany  for  the  purpose  of  experi- 
mentation. Prior  to  that  time  private  individuals 
had  brought  specimens  into  the  United  States  from 
Germany,  without  attracting  any  general  attention. 


50 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


In  the  fall  of  1879  a  systematic  distribution  of 
young  carp  was  begun,  which  was  continued  up  to 
1896.  During  that  time  nearly  every  state  in  the 
Union  tried  to  cultivate  this  fish,  and  the  attempt 
met  with  success  in  many  states.  The  purpose  of 
the  Fish  Commission,  more  especially,  was  to  dis- 
tribute this  fish,  which  was  believed  to  be  a  good 
food  fish  and  which  was  hardy,  easily  and  cheaply 
raised,  and  of  great  fecundity,  in  sections  where  con- 
ditions were  not  conducive  to  the  growth  of  fish,  the 
expectation  being  that  natural  ponds  not  suitable  for 
other  fish  would  be  used  or  that  artificial  ponds  would 
be  constructed  for  its  propagation.  Although  origi- 
nally introduced  therefore  into  private  or  restricted 
streams  and  waters,  it  was  not  long  before  the  pubUc 
waters  began  to  be  stocked — in  some  cases  acciden- 
tally, by  the  overflowing  of  a  carp  pond  or  stream,  and 
in  other  cases  through  the  intentional  introduction  of 
the  species,  as  in  certain  rivers  in  Illinois  and  Ohio. 

The  German  carp  product  in  1908  amounted  to 
42,763,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,135,000,  and  con- 
stituted 2  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  of  the 
total  value  of  all  fishery  products.  Of  38  states 
having  fisheries  of  a  commercial  nature  in  1908,  31 
reported  German  carp.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  statistics  of  the  carp  product,  by  states 
ranked  according  to  the  value  of  the  product,  together 
with  the  per  cent  distribution  of  both  the  quantity 
and  the  value  of  the  catch: 


states  combined.  Ohio  ranked  second,  with  a  prod- 
uct of  7,158,000  pounds,  while  Michigan,  Missouri, 
Wisconsin,  Iowa,  and  Minnesota  each  reported  over 
1,000,000  pounds.  The  total  German-carp  product  of 
these  seven  states  amounted  to  nearly  20,000  tons, 
valued  at  S979,000,  and  represented  91  per  cent  of  the 
quantity  and  86  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  German- 
carp  product  of  the  United  States. 

The  distribution  of  the  German-carp  product  in 
1908,  by  groups  of  states,  was  as  follows: 


oeeman^;arp  product:  1908. 

8TATB. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

42,763,000 

100 

11,135,000 

100 

Illinois                              

21,642,000 
7,158,000 
2,432,000 

2.048,000 

2,459,000 

2,247,000 

406,000 

1,132,000 

304,000 

449,000 

220,000 

254,000 

237,000 

280,000 

167,000 

228,000 

133.000 

128,000 

427,000 

175,000 

71,000 

22,000 

38,000 

100,000 

51 
17 
6 
5 

6 
S 

1 
3 

1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 

"l 

<% 

(') 

(') 

(v 

574,000 

129,000 

80,000 

62,000 

56,000 

62,000 

31,000 

26,000 

19,000 

18,000 

16,000 

12,000 

8,200 

8,000 

7,100 

7,000 

6,700 

6,000 

4,300 

4,100 

2,200 

1,500 

1,200 

3,600 

61 

Ohio          

11 

Ulsscurl 

7 

Iowa     

6 

Mlchlean            

S 

6 

New  York             

3 

2 

2 

2 

Virginia   

Delaware 

California                   

?^ 

Pennsylvania       

<' 

(') 

(') 

AU  other  states  ' 

(0 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

s  Includes  Connecticut,  Florida,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Oregon,  South  Dakota, 
Texas,  and  West  Virginia. 

The  carp  product  of  Illinois,  most  of  which  was 
from  the  Illinois  River,  exceeded  that  of  all  other 


OEEMAN-CAKP 

product:  1908. 

STATE  OEOUP. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

42,763.000 

100 

$1,135,000 

100 

North  Central  states  .  

39,818,000 
704,000 
924,000 
861,000 
467,000 

93 
2 
2 
2 
1 

1,017,000 

50,000 

S'i.OOO 

30,000 

4,600 

90 

4 

South  Central  states  .          

3 

3 

Western  states. .        

(') 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

As  early  as  1883  carp  were  taken  in  the  waters  of  the 
Mississippi  River  and  its  "tributaries  and  in  the  Great 
Lakes,  but  they  were  not  handled  by  the  fish  dealers 
until  some  years  later  and  had  no  extensive  market 
until  about  1895.  In  the  report  of  the  United  States 
Fish  Commission  on  the  Great  Lakes  fisheries  for  1892, 
carp  is  not  mentioned  as  a  distinct  species  and,  if 
caught  and  sold  commercially  at  this  time,  was  prob- 
ably included  under  "Other  fish."  For  1893-94, 
however,  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  reported  a  consider- 
able amoimt  of  this  fish,  and  succeeding  reports  show 
a  steadily  increasing  product,  as  the  following  com- 
parative summary  indicates: 


GERMAK-CARP 
PROdUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

42,763,000 
IG.iiOS.OOO 
15.543.000 
2,108,000 

$1,135,000 

1903 

350,000 

1899                       

342.000 

1893-94 

65,000 

Although  this  product  is  caught  to  some  extent 
throughout  the  year,  the  largest  part  of  the  fisliing  is 
done  in  the  spring  and  summer.  A  variety  of  appa- 
ratus is  used  in  taking  carp,  but  the  bulk  of  the  catch 
is  made  with  seines,  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  and  trammel 
nets.  The  statistics  of  the  catch  by  the  various  forms 
of  apparatus  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


51 


OEBMAN'^ABP  PBODUCT:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

42,763,000 

100 

tl, 135,000 

100 

24,162.000 

10,067,000 

6,154,000 

1,062,000 

1,224,000 

894,000 

199,000 

67 
24 
12 
2 
3 
2 
(') 

611,000 
286.000 
141.000 
35.000 
28,000 
25.000 
8,500 

54 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

25 

12 

Lines 

3 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 

am  nets 

2 
2 

Another 

1 

>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

Catfishes  (Siluridx). — The  American  species  include 
the  sea  catfishes  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  channel  cats 
of  all  the  rivers  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  the 
horned  pout,  which  is  widely  distributed  through  the 
brooks  and  ponds  of  the  states,  and  the  diminutive 
mad-toms.  The  different  varieties  are  distinguished 
by  the  common  names  of  "channel  cat,"  "blue  cat," 
"Mississippi  cat,"  "mud  cat,"  "flannel-mouth," 
"horned  pout,"  "bullhead,"  "minister,"  "goujon," 
"bashaw,"  "gaff-topsail,"  etc.  They  vary  in  length 
from  1  to  5  feet  and  in  weight  from  2  to  150  pounds, 
are  caught  by  means  of  nets,  traps,  hand  lines,  and  by 
jugging,  and  are  used  extensively  for  food. 

The  value  of  the  catch  in  1908  was  .$785,000,  or 
more  than  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery 
products.  Catfish  are  taken  in  all  waters  of  the 
United  States,  but  in  1 908  nearly  one-half  of  the  total 
product  came  from  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  trib- 


utaries. In  these  waters  catfish  ranked  third  in  value 
among  fishery  products,  contributing  13  per  cent  of 
their  total  value.  Of  the  38  states  included  In  the 
canvass  of  1908,  all,  with  the  exception  of  four  of  the 
New  England  states,  reported  this  fish.  The  catches 
reported  from  Louisiana  and  Illinois  greatly  exceeded 
those  from  any  of  the  other  states,  in  both  quantity 
and  value,  but  the  product  was  otherwise  distributed 
with  unusual  equality.  The  weight  and  value  of  the 
catfish  taken  in  the  leading  states  and  the  per  cent 
distribution  of  the  value  are  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


CATFISH  product:  1908. 

SIAII. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Percent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amount. 

Percent 

distri- 
bution. 

United  States 

17,817,000 

100 

1786,000 

100 

Louisiana 

4,405,000 

2,044,000 

1,069,000 

1,481,000 

1,166,000 

418,000 

895,000 

738,000 

5,602,000 

26 
11 
6 
8 
7 
2 
6 
4 
31 

143,000 
96,000 
66,000 
54,000 
51,000 
33,000 
33,000 
31,000 

288,000 

18 

Illinois 

12 

California 

7 

Florida 

7 

6 

4 

Arkansas 

4 
4 

37 

1  Includes  20  states. 


With  the  exception  of  the  period  1889-1894,  the 
product  in  1908  was  larger  than  that  of  any  other 
year  for  which  statistics  are  available,  as  shown  by  the 
following  comparative  statement  giving  the  quantity 
and  value  for  1908  and  previous  canvasses: 


CATFISH  PBODUCT. 

nrvifaoN. 

1908 

1902-1905 

1897-1899 

1889-18M 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States 

17,817,000 

$785,000 

12,120,000 

$501,000 

14,953,000 

$554,000 

22,673,000 

$767,000 

8,073,000 
3,984,000 
3,528,000 
1,270,000 
963,000 

395,000 
143,000 
132,000 
65,000 
So,  000 

5.192,000 

2.415,000 

2,838,000 

923,000 

762,000 

277,000 
73,000 
95,000 
27,000 
28,000 

7,648,000 
2,449,000 
2,047,000 
626,000 
2,183,000 

340,000 
58,000 
71,000 
16,000 
69,000 

14,727,000 
2,850,000 
3,166,000' 

1,930,000 

533,000 

Gulf  of  Alexico  division 

60,000 

113,000 

Pacific  coast  division 

(•) 

61,000 

*  None  reported. 


The  value  of  the  product  of  the  Mississippi  River 
and  its  tributaries  constituted  more  than  50  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  total  catch  of  this  fish  in  1908,  and 
the  product  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  ranked  next,  with 
a  value  equal  to  18  per  cent  of  the  total.  The  Atlantic 
coast  and  the  Pacific  coast  divisions  contributed, 
respectively,  17  per  cent  and  8  per  cent  of  the  total 
value,  while  the  catch  of  the  Great  Lakes  division 
represented  only  6  per  cent. 

The  following  tabular  statement  presents  the  sta- 
tistics of  the  catch,  by  the  leading  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture: 


CATFISH  PBODUCT:   1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

17,817,000 

100 

$785,000 

100 

7,012,000 

4,445,000 

3,795,000 

1,505,000 

653,000 

163,000 

21.5.000 

30,000 

39 

25 

21 

8 

4 

1 

1 

(') 

290,000 
219,000 
151,000 
69,000 
32,000 
12,000 
11.000 
1,100 

37 

Fylie  and  hoop  nets 

28 

19 

9 

Trammel  net-^ 

4 

2 

Gill  nets. 

1 

0) 

>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


..    ] 


52 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Clams. — This  term  Includes  the  hard  clam,  quahaug, 
or  round  clam  {Venus  mercenaria) ;  soft  or  long  clam 
{Mya  arenaria);  razor  clam,  or  razor  fish  {Ensis 
americana);  surf,  sea,  or  hen  clam  {Spisula  solidissimu); 
and  various' other  species. 

Clams  are  bivalve  mollusks  largely  used  for  food  and 
bait,  and  are  found  on  all  our  coasts.  Various  species, 
most  of  wliich  are  edible,  are  known  as  "soft  clam," 
"long  clam,"  "butterfish,"  "mananose,"  "nanni- 
nose,"  "squirt  clam,"  "quahaug,"  "hard  clam," 
"surf  clam,"  "sea  clam,"  "hen  clam,"  "beach  clam," 
"dipper,"  "skimmer,"  "painted  clam,"  "cuneata 
clam,"  "round  clam,"  "httle-neck  clam,"  "gapers," 
"tellens,"  "flat  clam,"  "razor  clam,"  "razor  fish," 
"knife-handle,"  and  "buUnose."  For  the  purposes  of 
of  the  census,  however,  all  species  are  classified  as 
either  hard,  soft,  razor,  or  surf  clams. 

The  clam  product  of  the  United  States  in  1908 
ranked  sixth  in  value,  amounting  to  1,900,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $1,917,000.  Wliile  the  quantity  of  the  hard- 
shell variety  but  little  exceeded  that  of  the  soft-shell, 
the  value  of  the  former  was  nearly  two  and  one-half 
times  that  of  the  latter.  The  statistics  of  the  clam 
product  reported,  by  class  of  product,  are  given  in  the 
following  tabular  statement : 


United  States. 


Hard  clams. . 
Soft  clams... 
Razor  clams. 
Surf  clams... 


Virginia 

Massachusetts 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Maine 

North  Carolina 

Rhode  Island 

Connecticut 

Maryland 

Florida 

Pacific  coast  states. . 
All  other  states ' 


CLAM  proddct:  1908. 


Quantity. 


1,900,000 


976,000 

865,000 

26,000 

33,000 

246,000 

334,000 

306,000 

188,000 

506,000 

91,000 

48,000 

17.000 

10,000 

30,000 

109,000 

16,000 


Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 


Value. 


1  Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 


SI, 917, 000 


1,317,000 
653,000 
25,000 
21,000 

380.000 

378,000 

336,000 

292,000 

251,000 

82,000 

77,000 

26,000 

16,000 

15,000 

46,000 

17,000 


29 
1 
1 

20 

20 

18 

15 

13 

4 

4 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 


1  Includes  Delaware,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  and  South  Carolina. 

Hard  clams  were  reported  from  all  the  Pacific  coast 
states,  from  Florida  and  Louisiana  on  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico,  and  from  all  the  Atlantic  coast  states  except 
Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  The  entire  soft-clam 
product,  with  the  exception  of  1  per  cent  of  the  total, 
taken  in  California  and  Oregon,  was  from  the  North  At- 
lantic coast,  none  being  reported  south  of  New  Jersey. 


CLAM  product:  1908. 

STATE. 

Total. 

Hard  clams. 

Soft  clams. 

Razor  clams. 

Surf  clams. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

United  states 

1.900,000 

$1,917,000 

976,000 

Jl, 317, 000 

865,000 

$553,000 

26,000 

$25,000 

33,000 

$21,000 

Virginia 

246,000 
334,000 
306,000 
188,000 

506,000 
91.000 
48.000 
17,000 

10,000 

30,000 

109,000 

16,000 

380,000 
378,000 
336,000 
292,000 

251,000 
82,000 
77,000 
26,000 

16,000 
15,000 
46,000 
17,000 

246,000 
140,000 
273,000 
101,000 

380,000 
189,000 
318,000 
223,000 

Massarhii.sett.s 

192,000 
20,000 
66,000 

506,000 

186,000 
11,000 
54,000 

251,000 

2,400 

3,600 

New  Jersey 

12,000 
21,000 

7,000 
14,000 

New  York 

Maine 

North  Carolina 

91,000 
20,000 
13,000 

10,000 
30,000 
36,000 
16,000 

82,000 
39.000 
20,000 

16,000 
15,000 
17,000 
17,000 

Rhode  Island 

28,000 
4,200 

38,000 
5,500 

Connecticut 

Maryland 

Florida 

£0,000 

7,300 

23,000 

22,000 

All  other  states! 

'  Includes  Delaware,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  and  South  Carolina. 


Razor  clams  were  reported  from  Washington  and 
Massachusetts,  and  surf  clams  from  New  York  and 
New  Jersey.  The  statistics  of  the  clam  product,  by 
states  and  varieties,  are  given  in  the  above  tabular 
statement,  in  wliich  the  states  are  ranked  according 
to  the  value  of  their  catch. 

It  is  not  possible  to  compare  the  statistics  for  the 
different  varieties  with  those  for  previous  years, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  at  the  earlier  canvasses  in  many 
instances  no  distinction  of  varieties  was  made.  A 
comparison  of  the  figures  for  the  total  clam  product, 
however,  shows  a  shght  decrease  in  quantity  since  1880, 
accompanied  by  an  increase  in  value.  The  statistics 
for  the  various  canvasses  are  as  follows: 


CLAM   PRODUCT. 

YEAK. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908..              

1.900,000 
2,120,000 
2,268,000 
2,184,000 

$1,917,000 

1902-1904 

1,820.000 

1888-1890 

1 , 730, 000 

1880 

1,228,000 

The  entire  clam  product  was  taken  with  tongs, 
dredges,  and  similar  apparatus. 

Cod  {Gadus  callarias). — The  cod  is  caught  most  ex- 
tensively along  the  coast  of  the  Middle  states,  New 
England,  and  British  America,  and  is  not  taken  in  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  south  of  New  Jersey.     It  is  most  plenti- 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


53 


fill  on  tlie  Grand  Banks  and  off  the  coasts  of  New- 
foundland and  New  England.  The  weight  varies  from 
3  to  75  pounds.  The  Alaska  cod  {G.  macrocephaliis)  is 
found  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  from  Bering  Sea  to  Oregon. 

Of  the  lishery  products  of  the  United  States  in  1908, 
cod  ranked  third  in  value,  the  total  product  amounting 
to  109,453,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,903,000.  The 
Atlantic  coasi  states  furnished  93  per  cent  of  this 
amount  and  the  Pacific  coast  states  the  remaining  7 
per  cent. 

In  the  statement  at  top  of  next  column  is  presented 
the  per  cent  distribution  by  states  of  the  quantity  and 
the  value  of  the  cod  product  in  1908. 

On  account  of  the  length  of  tlie  trips  made  by 
vessels  in  the  Pacific  coast  fisheries,  often  extending 
over  a  period  of  several  months,  the  fish  taken  are 
salted  on  the  vessels.  In  1908  the  Pacific  coast  catch 
was  7,946,000  pounds,  valued  at  $218,000.  Massa- 
chusetts and  Maine  furnished  the  entire  amount  of 
salted  cod  from  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  amount 
salted  in  these  two  states  is  decreasing  from  year  to 
year,  while  the  amount  marketed  in  a  fresh  condition 
is  increasing.  The  total  amount  of  salted  cod  was 
30,245,000  pounds,  valued  at  $950,000,  or  27  per  cent 
of  the  total  quantity  and  33  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  United  States  cod  product. 


DIVISION,   STATE,  AND  CONDITION  OF  PRODUCT. 

PER    CENT 
TION  OF 

OCT:  1908 

DI.STRIBU- 
=OD  PKOD- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States 

100 

100 

93 
66 

48 

18 

18 

16 

2 

3 

3 

1 

1 

^''      7 
4 
3 

93 

67 

Fresh 

45 

Salted 

22 

15 

Fresh 

12 

Salted 

3 

New  Jersey 

4 

3 

Khodelsland 

1 

Connecticut 

1 

(1) 

Pennsylvania 

(I) 

(') 

Pacific  coast  division  2, 

g 

4 

California 

s 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent.       2  All  the  cod  product  of  this  division  was  salted. 

Fresh  cod  from  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries  repre- 
sented 72  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  67  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  catch.  Massachusetts 
and  Maine  together  furnished  over  four-fifths  of  the 
total  cod  product. 

The  comparative  statistics  of  the  cod  product  for 
1888,  1902-1904,  and  1908  are  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


COD  PRODUCT. 

1908 

1902-1904 

1888 

CONDITION  OF  PRODUCT  AND 
DIVISION. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

110,054,000 

100 

$2,914,000 

100 

98,383,000 

100 

$2,490,000 

100 

119,545.000 

100 

$3,109,000 

100 

Fresh ' . 

79,808,000 

30,24.i,000 
22,293,000 
7,940,000 

73 

27 

20 

7 

1,964,000 

950,000 
732,000 
218,000 

67 

33 
25 
8 

65,338,000 

43,045,000 
35,350,000 
7,695,000 

66 

44 
36 

8 

1,333,000 

1,157,000 
963,000 
194,000 

54 

46 
39 
8 

38,517,000 

81,028,000 

80,788,000 

239,000 

32 

68 
68 

884,000 

2,225,000 

2,214,000 

11,000 

28 

72 
71 

Salted  ... 

Atlantic  coast 

Pacific  coast 

1  All 

from  the  A 

Ltlantic  coas 

. 

»Les 

i  than  1  pe 

r  cent. 

A  comparison  of  the  totals  for  1908  with  these  for 
1902-1904  shows  that  there  has  been  an  increase,  but 
that  the  yield  reported  at  the  last  canvass  was  not 
equal  to  that  of  1888.  There  was  a  heavy  increase  in 
the  amount  brought  into  market  fresh  and  a  corre- 
sponding decrease  in  the  amount  salted.  The  figures 
for  Washington  show  an  increase  since  the  last  canvass 
and  those  for  California  a  decrease,  while  the  result 
was  an  increase  for  the  Pacific  coast  division  as  a 
whole.  The  cod  taken  by  the  Connecticut  and  Dela- 
ware fisheries  formed  but  a  small  fraction  of  the  total, 
but  the  value  of  the  catch  in  the  former  state  in  1908 


was  nearly  four  times  as  great  as  that  in  1902,  and  in 
the  latter  the  cjuantity  caught  was  nearty  nine  times 
as  great  as  in  1904.  New  Jersey,  New  York,  and 
Rhode  Island  more  than  doubled  their  catch.  New 
Hampshire  and  Maryland  were  the  only  states  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  showing  a  decrease.  The  distribution 
of  the  cod  taken  in  1888,  1902-1904,  and  1908  is  given 
in  the  next  tabular  statement: 

As  the  cod  habitually  feeds  on  the  bottom,  prac- 
tically the  entire  catch  was  taken  with  trawls  and  hand 
lines,  though  a  few  were  taken  in  pound  nets,  gill  nets, 
and  other  trawls. 


54 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


COD  PRODUCT. 

DIVISION,  STATE,  AND  CONDITION  OF  PRODUCT. 

1908 

1902-1901 

1888 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

110,054,000 

$2,914,000 

98,383,000 

$2,490,000 

119,545,000 

$3,109,000 

102,108,000 

72,819,000 

53,148,000 

19,671,000 

20,013,000 

17,385,000 

2,628,000 

3,767,000 

2,999,000 

1,497,000 

820,000 

135,000 

50,000 

7,000 

2,696,000 

1,955,000 

1,311,000 

644,000 

439,000 

3.'il,000 

88,000 

130,000 

99,000 

42,000 

27,000 

3,900 

800 

400 

90,688,000 

69,521,000 

40,659,000 

28,862,000 

17,390,000 

10,903,000 

6,488,000 

1,262,000 

1,170,000 

690,000 

211,000 

442,000 

2,296,000 

1,773,000 

976,000 

797,000 

377,000 

210,000 

167,000 

54,000 

53,000 

21,000 

7,100 

12,000 

119,305,000 

87,797,000 

23,427,000 

64,370,000 

23,833,000 

7,414,000 

16,419,000 

727,000 

3,195,000 

306,000 

2,001,000 

1,420,000 

21,000 

3.099,000 

2,278,000 
516,000 

Salted                                           

1.762,000 

Maine                        

697,000 

Fresh                                               

145,000 

452,000 

15,000 

New  York                              

104,000 

9,700 

Connecticut                           

65,000 

29,000 

400 

800 

300 

7,695,000 

2,072,000 

5,623,000 

194,000 
62,000 
132.000 

7,946,000 
4.648,000 
3,298,000 

218,000 
124,000 
94,000 

239,000 
239,000 

11,000 

11,000 

California                                                                                     

>  Less  than  $100. 

Crabs. — Crabs  are  decapod  crustaceans,  found 
along  all  the  coasts  of  the  United  States.  The  differ- 
ent species  vary  much  in  size,  habit,  and  use,  and  are 
distinguished  by  the  adjectives  "blue,"  "fiddler," 
"green,"  "hermit,"  "jonah,"  "kelp,"  "lady," 
"mud,"  "oyster,"  "red,"  "rock,"  "sand,"  "sea," 
"soldier,"  "spider,"  "stone,"  etc.  The  common 
edible  crab  has  names  applied  by  the  catchers,  de- 
scribing the  different  conditions  of  the  shell.  Wliile 
shedding  they  are  known  as  "comer,"  "buster," 
"peeler,"  and  "shedder;"  while  growing  a  new  shell, 
as  "soft-shell,"  "paper-shell,"  and  "buckler." 

Crabs  are  used  for  food,  bait,  and  fertiUzer.  Bang 
crabs  are  sold  for  the  latter  purpose  and  the  product 
is  known  as  "cancerine." 

Although  for  the  purposes  of  this  report  crabs  are 
divided  into  only  five  classes,  a  number  of  varieties 
were  taken,  most  of  which  are  included  under  "hard 
crabs"  or  "soft  crabs."     The  most  important  species 


'  M\  the  cod  product  of  this  division  was  salted. 

included  under  these  heads  are  the  blue  crab  of  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  the  Pacific  coast  crabs.  The 
•terms  "hard"  and  "soft"  are  applied  to  crabs  to 
designate  the  condition  of  the  shell  rather  than  to 
differentiate  species.  The  common  blue  crab  of  the 
Atlantic  coast  sheds  its  shell  several  times  annually, 
and  since  commercially  only  two  stages  are  recognized, 
it  may  be  classed  as  either  "hard"  or  "soft."  No 
soft  crabs  were  reported  from  the  Pacific  coast.  In 
addition  to  the  hard  and  soft  varieties,  those  shown 
separately  here  are  the  "king  crab,"  "spider  crab," 
and  "stone  crab." 

The  crab  product  in  1908,  comprising  hard,  soft, 
king,  spider,  and  stone  crabs,  aggregated  60,626,000 
pounds,  and  had  a  value  of  S938,000.  The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  distribution  of  the  quan- 
tity and  the  value  of  the  hard  and  soft  crab  product, 
as  reported  for  1908,  for  groups  of  states: 


HARD  AND  SOPT  CRAB  PRODUCT:   1908. 

Total. 

Bard  crabs. 

Soft  crabs. 

STATE  GROUP. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Vahie. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Valoe. 

United  States 

52,913,000 

100 

$912,000 

100 

42,612,000 

$553,000 

10,301,000 

$359,000 

Middle  Atlantic  states 

46,602,000 

4,081,000 

1,197,000 

765,000 

208,000 

88 
8 
2 
1 

1 

679,000 
127,000 
55,000 
46,000 
5,400 

74 
14 
6 
S 

1 

36,705,000 

4,081,000 

1,071,000 

488,000 

266,000 

380,000 

127,000 

29,000 

12,000 

5,300 

9,897,000 

298,000 

126,000 

277,000 

1,800 

27,000 

33,000 
200 

New  England  states                        

The  statistics  of  the  crab  product  for  1908,  by  states 
and  varieties,  are  given  in  the  next  table. 

The  Virginia  fisheries  supplied  more  than  one-half 
of  the  total  quantity  of  hard  crabs  and  the  Maryland 
fisheries  considerably  more  than  one-fourth.  In  the 
soft-crab  output  Virginia  and  Maryland  again  took 


the  lead,  but  the  order  is  reversed,  Maryland  reporting 
three-fourths  of  the  total  weight  and  Virginia  one- 
fifth.  No  soft  crabs  whatever  were  reported  from  the 
Pacific  coast  states.  The  combined  weiglit  of  hard  and 
soft  crabs  was  52,913,000  pounds  and  the  combined 
value   $912,000.     When   the   two   varieties   are  thu3 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


65 


considered  together,  the  products  of  Vu-gmia  and 
Maryland  are  very  nearly  equal  in  value,  that  of  the 
Virginia  product  being  $326,000  and  that  of  the  Mary- 
land product   $319,000.     These   two   states   together 


contributed  71  per  cent  and  the  Middle  Atlantic 
states,  as  a  group,  74  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the 
hard  and  soft  crab  product. 


CEAB  PBODtrcr:  1908. 

Total. 

Hard  crabs. 

Soft  crabs. 

OTATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Value. 

United  States 

160,628,000 

100 

11938,000 

100 

42,612,000 

$553,000 

10,301,000 

$359,000 

Virginia  . 

25,083,000 

20,373,000 

1,702,000 

2,179.000 

390,000 

>  4,952,000 
322,000 
426.000 

•3,178,000 
< 665,000 

196,000 

200,000 

•211,000 

246,000 

200.000 
146,000 
122,000 
33,000 

41 

34 

3 

4 

1 

8 
'  1 
1 
5 
1 

P 

(') 
(') 
(') 
(') 

326,000 

319,000 

69,000 

51,000 

34,000 

» 34, 000 
29.000 
15.000 

•13,000 
< 9,800 

7,500 

6,900 

•6,500 

6,100 

5,000 

2,900 

2,600 

900 

35 

34 

7 

5 

4 

4 

3 
2 
1 
1 

1 
1 
1 

1 

1 
(') 
(') 
(') 

23,001,000 

12,786,000 

1,702,000 

2,179,000 

113,000 

282,000 
244,000 
380,000 
57,000 
580,000 

196,000 
200,000 
148.000 
246,000 

199,000 
146,000 
121,000 
33,000 

239,000 

124,000 

69,000 

51,000 

1,100 

9,100 
7,800 
9,800 
600 
7,400 

7,  .WO 
6,900 
2,900 
6,100 

4,800 

2,900 

2,400 

900 

2,082,000 
7,587.000 

87,000 

195,000 

California 

Washington 

North  Carolina 

277,000 

63.000 
78,000 
47,000 
142,000 
22,000 

33,000 

New  Jersey 

6,200 

Louisiana. .  . 

21,000 

5,600 

Delaware.               .      .             .  .          .      . 

8,400 

New  Yorlt 

2,300 

600 

200 

Rhode  Island 

Massach  usetts 

1,800 

200 

1  Includes  7,643.000  pounds  of  king  crabs,  valued  at  $23,000;  62,000  pounds  of  stone  crabs,  valued  at  13,700;  and  7,200  pounds  of  spider  crabs. 


»  Includes  4,607.000  poundsof  king  crabs,  valued  at  $18,000. 

•  Includes  2,980,000  pounds  of  king  crabs,  valued  at  $4,300. 

<  Includes  63,000  pounds  of  king  and  spider  crabs,  valued  at  $100. 

Tlie  statistics  of  the  hard  and  soft  crab  product,  for 
the  years  for  which  returns  are  available,  are  given  in 
the  following  tabular  statement : 


DIVISION  AKD  YEAR. 


United  States; 

1908 

1902-1905. 

1889-1892.. 

1880.... 


52,913,000 

40.218,000 

16,004.000 

7,711.000 


New  England  states: 

1908 

1905 


1889 

1880 

Middle  Atlantic 
states: 

1908 

1904 

1897 

1891 

1880 

South  Atlantic 
states: 

1908 

1902 

1891 

1880 

Gulf  of  Mexico  states 

1908 

1902 

1897 

1890 

1880 

Pacific  coast  states: 

1908 

1904 

1899 

189S 

1892 

1880 


HAED  AND  SOFT  CRAB   PRODUCT. 


Total. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$912,000 
906,000 
566,000 
338.000 


268,000 
80,000 

■13,000 
13.000 

m 


46,602,000 
31,975,000 
17,226,000 
11,635,000 
7,026,000 


765,000 

386,000 

193,000 

60,000 

1.197,000 
1,697,000 
1,780,000 
1,219,000 
324,000 

4,081,000 
6,080,000 
4,062,000 
2,752,000 
2,945,000 
300,000 


Value. 


5,400 
2,300 
2,200 
1.400 

m 


679,000 
675,000 
337.000 
426,000 
313,000 


46,000 
19,000 
4,200 
1,300 

55,000 
28,000 
22.000 
26.000 
8,100 

127,000 
182,000 
100.000 

67.000 
107,000 

15,000 


42,612,000 

32.061.000 

9,770,000 


Hard  crabs. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$553,000 
578,000 
1213,000 


266,000 
73,000 
7.900 
(>) 

m 


36,705.000 
24,057,000 
11,523.000 
5,751,000 
(') 


488,000 

185,000 

(") 

m 

1,071.000 
1,666.000 
1,759.000 
1.074,000 
C) 

4,081,000 
6.080.000 
4, 062,  (XX) 
2.752,000 
2,945,000 
300,000 


Value. 


10,301,000 

8,156,000 

6,029,000 

(') 


5,300 
1,100 
600 
(') 
(') 


380,000 

366,000 

85.000 

87,000 

(') 


12,000 
4.40O 

29,000 
25,000 
21,000 
19,000 
« 

127.000 
182,000 
100.000 

67.000 
107,000 

15,000 


Soft  crabs. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$359,000 
328.000 
'346,000 

m 


1,800 

6,600 

6,000 

(■) 

(«) 


9,897,000 
7,919.000 
5.703,000 
6,884,000 


277,000 
200,000 

P) 

(') 

126,000 
31,000 
21,000 

144,000 


Value. 


200 
1,200 
1,700 
(') 
I') 


298,000 
309,000 
252,000 
339,000 


33,000 
16,000 
(") 

h 

27,000 
2.900 
1.700 
7., 300 
(») 


I  Not  including  the  New  England  states  and  the  South  Atlantic  states. 
'  Not  reported.  '    '  Not  reported  separately. 


6  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

•  Includes  02,000  pounds  of  stone  crabs,  valued  at  $3,700. 

The  crab  fisheries  show  a  great  increase  in  pro- 
ductivity. As  compared  with  the  product  of  hard  and 
soft  crabs  in  1908,  amounting  to  52,913,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $912,000,  the  figures  for  1880  are  small,  the 
product  being  only  7,711 ,000  pounds,  valued  at  $338,000. 
Virginia  and  Maryland  are  the  states  reporting  the 
largest  quantities  in  1880,  as  well  as  in  1908,  but  New 
York  and  New  Jersey  followed  closely,  and  the  value 
of  New  Jersey's  product  in  1880  was  greater  than  that 
of  all  the  remaining  states  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard 
and  the  Gulf  combined.  No  figures  covering  the  whole 
United  States  are  available  for  any  single  year  of  the 
intervening  period,  but  the  composite  figures  show 
the  increase  to  be  general.  The  increase  in  value 
shows  greater  fluctuations  than  the  increase  in  the 
quantity  of  the  product. 

The  king  crab  or  horseshoe  crab  is  used  for  bait  and 
hog  feed,  but  most  extensively  for  fertilizer  purposes. 
The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  product  for 
certain  specified  years: 


KINO-CRAB  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

7,543,000 
2,303,000 
3,539,000 
8,600,000 

$23,000 

1904                                      .                  

8,900 

1891 

8,200 

1880 

16,000 

All  king  crabs  reported  were  taken  from  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  along  the  Middle  Atlantic  states,  two-thirds  of 
the  quantity  coming  from  New  Jersey. 


56 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  most  common  method  of  taking  hard  crabs  is 
with  meat-baited  lines,  liand  or  set,  and  a  dip  net  in 
which  the  crab  is  cauglit  when  hauled  to  the  surface. 
Two-thirds  of  the  soft-crab  catch  is  taken  with 
dredges.  King  crabs  were  formerly  all  caught  by 
hand  or  with  forks  on  the  beach,  but  the  great  bulk 
are  now  taken  in  pound  nets. 

Flounders  {Pleuronectidse). — The  family  of  flounders 
is  composed  of  the  turbots,  the  halibuts,  the  plaices,  and 
probably  the  soles.  Since  the  halibuts  are  considered 
separately  they  are  not  here  included  under  flounders. 

The  name  flounder  is  variously  applied  to  the  flat 
fishes  foimd  on  all  the  coasts  of  the  United  States, 
and  known  as  "American  sole,"  "bastard  halibut," 
"Monterey  halibut,"  "winter  flounder,"  "starry 
flounder,"  "rough  limanda,"  "diamond  flounder," 
"long-finned sole,"  "sand  dab,"  "rough  dab,"  "Green- 
land turbot,"  "pole  flounder,"  "craig  flounder," 
"spotted  sand  flounder,"  etc.  They  vary  in  size 
and  shape,  and  are  sold  for  both  food  and  bait.  The 
catch  is  taken  in  weirs,  nets,  beam  trawls,  and  seines, 
and  with  hand  lines  and  gaffs. 

The  catch  of  floxmders  in  1908  was  valued  at 
$588,000,  and  represented  a  little  over  1  per  cent  of 
the  total  fishery  product.  It  was  derived  from  the 
fisheries  of  21  states,  including  every  coast  state  except 
New  Hampshire.  Massachusetts,  California,  and  New 
York,  however,  reported  79  per  cent  of  the  weight 
and  73  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total,  and  this, 
combined  with  the  product  of  Ehode  Island,  New 
Jersey,  and  Connecticut,  represents  93  per  cent  of  the 
total  weight  and  90  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  The 
statistics  of  the  product  for  the  more  important  states 
are  as  follows: 


FLOUNDER  PEODUCT:   1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Poimds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

23,346,000 

100 

8588,000 

7,124,000 
6.681,000 
4,629,000 
1,891,000 
650,000 
707,000 
1,664,000 

31 

29 
20 
8 
3 
3 
7 

146,000 
144,000 
141,000 
50,000 
25,000 
21,000 
60,000 

California       

24 

24 

Uhnrlw  Tnlnnd 

9 

f!nnnftnt,iciit 

4 

10 

Comparative  figures  of  the  product  of  flounders,  so  far 
as  available,  are  given  in  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment. A  marked  increase  appears  in  both  the  quan- 
tity and  the  value  of  the  catch  in  1908,  as  compared 
with  earlier  years. 


TLOUNDER  PBODtlCT. 

YEAK. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value, 

1908 

23.340,000 
14.212.000 
12,012,000 
10,385,000 
6,167,000 

S58S,000 

1902-1905 

377,000 

1898-99 

2,57.000 

1889-1892                            

257  000 

1888 ' 

160,000 

1  Exclusive  of  the  product  of  the  Pacific  coast  states. 

Flounders  were  caught  with  a  variety  of  apparatus 
of  capture,  and  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  catch 
taken  with  the  different  kinds  of  apparatus  are  given 
in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


FLOtJNDEK  product:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

23,346,000 

100 

$588,000 

100 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 

Lines           

4,369,000 

4,017,000 

3.709,000 

2,9,W,000 

3,638,000 

1.990.000 

1.(145,000 

820.000 

185.000 

20.000 

19 
17 
IS 
13 
16 
9 
7 
4 
1 
(') 

138.000 
91,000 
.89.000 
75,000 
68.000 
54,000 
43,000 
20,000 
S.SOO 
400 

23 
IS 

15 

13 

12 

Trammel  nets 

9 

7 

Gill  nets              

3 

1 

Pots,  traps,  etc 

(') 

■  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

Haddock  ( Melanogrammus  seglifinus) . — The  haddock 
is  a  food  fish  found  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  north  of  the 
Delaware  capes;  it  is  called  "dickie"  in  some  localities. 
The  average  weight  is  from  4  to  6  pounds.  It  is  exten- 
sively used  as  a  fresh  food  fish,  and  is  also  salted, 
pickled,  and  dried.  When  slack-salted  and  smoked  it 
is  sold  under  the  name  of  "haddie." 

The  catch  in  1908,  valued  at  Sl,308,000,  represented 
2  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products 
of  the  United  States  and  4  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
food  fish.  In  the  product  from  the  Atlantic  coast  this 
fish  ranked  seventh  with  respect  to  value,  and  repre- 
sented 4  per  cent  of  the  total  value.'  The  catch  was 
sold  fresh,  with  the  exception  of  1,042,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $22,000,  which  were  salted.  The  first 
tabular  statement  following  gives  the  statistics  of  the 
weight  and  value  of  the  haddock  catch,  by  states. 

The  value  of  the  catch  of  haddock  in  1908  exceeded 
that  of  any  year  for  which  statistics  are  available,  but 
the  quantity  was  less  than  in  1904-5.  Comparative 
figures  are  given  in  the  second  tabular  statement 
following  for  1908  and  earlier  years. 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


57 


UADDOCK  PRODUCT:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

1 
Per  cent ; 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

59,987,000 

100 

$1,308,000 

100 

48.492.000 
10,513.000 
424.000 
415.000 
100.000 
24.000 
20,000 

81 

18 

1 

1 
(■) 

1,038,000 

243,000 

12,000 

11.000 

2.700 

900 

600 

79 

19 

1 

1 

(•) 

Connecticut    - 

{'1 

•  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


HADDOCK  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                        

59,987,000 
77,0(».000 
45,997,000 
43,639,000 
44,887,000 

$1,308,000 

1904-5 

1,259,000 

1897-98                            

584,000 

1889-1891 

743,000 

1888                          . 

802,000 

The  catch  was  practically  all  taken  with  lines,  only 
about  2  per  cent  being  taken  with  seines  and  1  per 
cent  with  pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  gill  nets. 

Hake  (  Urophycis) . — The  species  included  under  this 
head  are  not  true  hakes,  but  comprise  different  varie- 
ties of  food  fish  found  off  tlie  Atlantic  coast  from  New- 
foundland to  Cape  Hatteras,  which  are  variously 
known  as  "old  English  hake,"  "squirrel  hake," 
"white  hake,"  "ling,"  "king  hake,"  "codhng,"  etc. 
They  are  often  prepared  under  the  trade  name  of 
"boneless  fish."  The  average  length  is  from  H  to  2 
feet  and  tlie  average  weight  from  3  to  8  pounds. 

The  value  of  the  hake  catch  in  1908  was  $464,000. 
All  the  product  reported  was  sold  fresh  except  525,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $8,900,  which  were  salted.  The 
hake  was  taken  only  in  the  fisheries  of  the  North  At- 
lantic states,  and  practically  the  entire  product  was 
from  Massachusetts  and  Maine,  as  shown  in  the  fol- 
lowing tabular  statement : 


HAKE  product:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

34,340,000 

100 

$464,000 

100 

16,708,000 

17,398,000 

233,000 

49 

51 

1 

294,000 

168,000 

2,700 

63 

Maine 

36 

All  other  states  > 

1 

'  Includes  New  Jersey,  New  Yorlc,  New  Hampshire,  Connecticut,  and  Rhode 
Island. 

Except  for  the  greater  proximity  of  the  Massachu- 
setts fisheries  to  the  markets,  no  reason  is  apparent 


for  the  fact  that  the  average  value  of  the  Massachu- 
setts catch  was  so  much  greater  than  that  of  the 
Maine  catch. 

That  the  value  of  the  hake  product  has  increased 
substantially  during  recent  years  is  indicated  by  the 
following  tabular  statement,  giving  statistics  for 
years  for  which  returns  are  available: 


HAKE   product. 

TIAB. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                        

34.340,000 
35.929.000 
37,278,000 
14,816,000 
30,657.000 

$464,000 
419,000 
302,000 
161,000 
196,000 

1904-5 

1897-98            .              

1889 • 

1880                               

During  tlie  earlier  years  for  which  statistics  are 
given,  large  quantities  were  salted;  in  1898  several 
million  pounds  were  salted,  but  in  1908  practically 
the  entire  product  was  sold  fresh. 

The  catch  was  taken  principally  with  lines,  the 
capture  with  other  apparatus  not  exceeding  2  per  cent 
of  the  total. 

Hake  sounds  used  in  the  manufacture  of  isinglass 
have  been  included  in  the  statistics  of  sounds,  which 
are  given  on  page  43. 

Halibut  (Hippoglossv^  Tiippoglossus) . — The  halibut, 
the  largest  and  most  valuable  of  the  flat  fishes,  is 
found  in  the  North  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans.  It 
is  one  of  the  largest  species  used  for  food,  sometimes 
weighing  over  300  pounds,  but  the  average  weight  is 
from  50  to  75  pounds.  There  are  three  grades  of 
halibut.  The  "white,"  which  has  its  underside 
immaculate,  is  considered  best  and  brings  the  highest 
price;  the  "gray"  is  blotched  on  the  underside,  and 
sells  for  a  third  less;  the  "sour"  is  tainted,  and  brings 
only  about  one-fourth  as  much  as  the  "white."  Small 
young  fish,  weighing  from  10  to  20  pounds,  are  called 
"chickens,"  and  are  much  sought  after  by  epicures. 
Halibut  are  sold  fresh  and  are  also  cured  and  smoked, 
while  the  napes  are  pickled.  An  oil  used  for  currying 
purposes  is  made  from  the  head,  and  the  residue  is 
used  as  a  fertilizer  under  the  name  of  "chum." 

Halibut  was  the  eighth  in  value  among  all  the 
fishery  products  and  the  fifth  among  fish  proper. 
In  1908  its  value,  $1,562,000,  formed  3  per  cent  of 
that  reported  for  the  entire  fishery  product  and  5  per 
cent  of  that  for  fish  proper.  In  the  Pacific  coast 
division,  from  which  about  six-sevenths  of  the  catch 
was  taken,  it  ranked  next  after  salmon,  and  com- 
prised 18  per  cent  of  the  fishery  product.  Nearly  all 
of  the  catch  of  the  Pacific  coast  states  came  from  the 
fisheries  of  Washington.  The  value  per  pound  was 
so  much  higher  on  the  Atlantic  seaboard,  that  the 
product  of  the  Atlantic  coast  states,  although  forming 


68 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


only  about  one-eighth  of  the  total  halibut  catch  in 
quantity,  contributed  one-fifth  of  its  total  value. 
The  statistics  of  the  catch  reported  by  the  different 
states  are  as  follows: 


HAUBUT  product:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

34,441,000 

,  100 

$1,562,000 

100 

30,072,000 

4,146,000 

200,000 

16,000 

8,500 

87 
12 

1,236,000 

310,000 

15,000 

700 

600 

79 

Massachusetts  ...            

20 

1 

Oregon                   •. 

(') 

(■) 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

The  catch  in  1908  was  nearly  twice  as  great  in  weight 
and  value  as  that  of  any  previous  year.  The  most 
notable  features  of  the  statistics  for  1908,  as  com- 
pared with  those  for  prior  canvasses,  are  the  decrease 
in  the  catch  of  the  New  England  fisheries  and  the 
increase  in  that  of  the  Pacific  coast  fisheries.  The 
following  tabular  statement  gives  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  catch  for  the  various  years  for  wliich 
returns  are  available : 


HAUBCT  PRODUCT. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Atlantic  coast 
division. 

Pacific  coast 
division. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

34,441,000 
15,807,000 
17,706,000 
11,391,000 
12,819,000 

$1,562,000 
697,000 
762,000 
874,000 
727,000 

4,354,000 
3,716,000 

10,828,000 
9,288,000 

11,599,000 

$326,000 
238,000 
670,000 
827,000 
695,000 

30,088,000 
12,091,000 
6,878,000 
2,103,000 
1,220,000 

$1,236,000 

1904-6 

1898-99  

1890-1892.... 
1888 

359,000 
193,000 
47,000 
32,000 

With  the  exception  of  656,000  pounds  of  salted 
haUbut,  valued  at  $53,000,  all  the  output  in  1908  was 
sold  fresh.  All  the  salted  halibut  product  was  reported 
by  the  fisheries  of  Massachusetts.  In  previous  years 
much  larger  quantities  were  salted  in  the  Massachusetts 
fisheries,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement 
giving  the  statistics  for  certain  years  for  which  detailed 
reports  were  made: 


• 

YEAR. 

Salted  halibut  prod- 
uct  OP    MASSACHU- 
SETTS. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908.                                       .                          

666,000 

466,000 

1,176,000 

1,860,000 

1,337,000 

$53,000 

1905 

19,000 

1902..                             ; 

70,000 

1898.. 

60.000 

1888 

76,000 

With  the  exception  of  9,000  pounds,  valued  at  $900, 
taken  in  other  trawls,  the  entire  halibut  catch  of  the 
country  was  made  with  lines. 

Herring  (Clupea  harengus). — The  herring  is  a  very 
important  food  fish  found  in  the  north  Atlantic  as  far 
south  as  Sandy  Hook;  it  is  never  found  in  brackish 
or  fresh  waters.  "  Sperling  "  and  "  brit "  denote  differ- 
ences in  the  age  of  the  fish.  Trade  names  are  "Digby 
chicken,"  "hard  herring,"  "bloaters,"  etc.  Herring 
weigh  from  one-half  pound  to  one  pound,  and  average 
in  length  about  10  inches.  As  a  food  fish  they  are 
used  fresh,  salted,  pickled,  smoked,  and  canned.  They 
are  also  used  extensively  for  bait  in  the  cod,  haddock, 
haUbut,  and  hake  fisheries. 

The  California  herring  is  an  allied  species  found 
along  the  entire  length  of  the  Pacific  coast.  The 
name  "herring"  is  also  applied  to  the  Gulf  menhaden 
on  the  Texas  coast  and  to  the  menhaden  in  southern 
Florida.  The  hickory  shad  is  called  "thread  herring" 
in  North  Carolina. 

The  herring  catch  in  1908  amounted  to  125,050,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $796,000.  Of  this  amount,  92  per 
cent  was  marketed  fresh,  and  the  balance,  8  per  cent, 
was  salted  or  smoked.  Maine  and  Massachusetts 
fishermen  captured  97  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity, 
which  represents  96  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  All 
of  the  salted  product  was  reported  from  Maine  and 
Massachusetts,  and  all  of  the  smoked  product  from 
Maine.  The  statistics  of  the  herriag  catch,  by  states 
ranked  in  the  order  of  the  value  of  their  products,  are 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


HERRINO  product:  1908. 

COKDITIOK    OF     PRODUCT,  DIVISION, 
AND  STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Total                  

125,050,000 

100 

$796,000 

100 

Fresh         

115,563,000 

9,253,000 

234,000 

92 
7 
(') 

658,000 

135,000 

2,900 

83 

Salted 

17 

Smoked 

(') 

121,704,000 

97 

764,000 

96 

92,985,000 

89,188,000 

3,563,000 

234,000 

28,501,000 

22, 812, 000 

5,690,000 

2,600 

214,000 

3,347,000 

74 

71 

3 

^■'23 

18 
6 

!'> 
(') 

3 

420,000 

389,000 

28,000 

2,900 

342,000 

235,000 

107,000 

100 

1,900 

32,000 

63 

49 

Salted     

4 

(') 

43 

80 

Salted        

13 

New  Yorlc 

(') 

0) 

4 

82.5,000 

15,000 

2,606,000 

1 

11,000 

300 

21,000 

1 

(') 

3 

•  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  herring  catch  ui  specified  years: 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


^9 


TEAS. 

DERRINQ  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908     

126,050,000 
86,367,000 
66,608,000 
60,120,000 
42,599,000 

1796,000 

1904-6                 .          .  ■-  

712,000 

1898-99 

618,000 

1889          

426,000 

1880                                                 .              

1,131,000 

A  large  number  of  vessels  engage  in  the  winter 
herring  fishery  off  the  west  coast  of  Newfoundland. 
The  greater  part  of  the  catch  was  taken  with  pound 
nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs.  The  distribution  of  the 
product  by  apparatus  of  capture  was  as  follows: 


HEBBENQ  PRODUCT:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

100 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

125,050,000 

1796,000 

100 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 

Seines 

72,868,000 

33,988,000 

11,302,000 

6,892,000 

58 
27 
9 
6 

336,000 

198,000 

218,000 

45,000 

42 
25 

Gill  nets 

27 

6 

Lake  herring  (Leucichthys) . — The  ciscoes,  or  lake 
herrings,  are  members  of  the  whitefish  family  found 
in  the  Great  Lakes  and  neighboring  waters.  There 
are  various  species  popularly  known  as  herring,  with 
or  without  quaUfying  names,  the  common  form 
{L.  artedi)  being  most  important. 


Lake  herring  has  always  been  the  leading  species 
from  the  Great  Lakes,  and  in  1908  the  value  of  the 
catch  was  $989,000,  or  26  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  fishery  products  of  this  division.  Of  the  total 
value  of  the  United  States  product  it  contributed  2 
per  cent,  and  of  the  value  of  fish  proper  3  per  cent. 
Considerably  over  one-half  of  the  entire  catch  was 
made  in  Lake  Michigan,  where  this  fish  represented 
over  one-half  of  the  weight  and  one-third  of  the  value 
of  the  total  product. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  catch,  distributed  by  fishing  grounds : 


LAKE-HEBBINO  PBODUCT:  1908. 

nSHDia  OBOUND. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total    

41,118,000 

100 

$989,000 

100 

Lake  Mlctiigan 

21,059,000 
10,600,000 
5,361,000 
4,064,000 
35,000 

61 
26 
13 
10 

(•) 

651,000 

286,000 

78,000 

72,000 

1,700 

66 

29 

Lal^e  Superior 

8 

7 

Lalje  Ontario  and  tributary  rivers. . 

(') 

'  Less  tlian  1  per  cent. 

Nearly  five-eighths  of  the  quantity  of  the  product 
was  reported  as  marketed  fresh,  the  remainder  being 
salted  or  smoked.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  statistics  of  the  catch  according  to  the  con- 
dition in  which  it  was  marketed,  the  states  being 
ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  catch: 


LAKE-HERRING  PRODUCT:  1908. 

Total.  > 

Fresh. 

Salted. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Value. 

Total 

41,118,000 

100 

$989,000 

100 

25,242,000 

$730,000 

11,951,000 

$191,000 

Wisconsin 

12,124,000 
14,787,000 
4,792,000 
3,796,000 

2,044,000 

2,778.000 

698,000 

198,000 

29 

30 

12 

9 

5 

7 
1 

322,000 

304,000 

147,000 

90,000 

51,000 

38,000 

28,000 

8,400 

33 

31 

15 

9 

6 
4 
3 
1 

7,046,000 
6,170,000 
4,780,000 
3,796,000 

•2,044,000 

1,608,000 

698,000 

198,000 

237,000 
149,000 
147,000 
90,000 

51,000 

21,000 

28,000 

8,400 

1,167,000 

9,617,000 

12,000 

18,000 

Mlciilgan 

165,000 

Ohio 

400 

Pennsylvania      

New  York 

1,165,000 

18,000 

Illinois   



'  Includes  3,925.000  pounds  of  smoked  lake  herring,  valued  at  $67,000,  distributed  as  follows:  Wisconsin,  3,921,000  pounds,  valued   at  $67,000,  and  Minnesota,  4,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $200. 
'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Every  state  bordering  on  the  Great  Lakes  shared 
in  the  catch,  but  Wisconsin  and  Michigan  took  far 
greater  quantities  than  any  others,  the  Michigan 
catch  being  the  largest  and  the  Wisconsin  catch  of 
the  greatest  value.  The  higher  value  of  the  Wisconsin 
product  was  due  to  the  fact  that  more  than  one-half 


was  sold  fresh,  while  only  about  one-third  of  the 
Michigan  product  was  so  marketed.  The  bulk  of  the 
salted  herring  was  from  Michigan,  and  nearly  all  the 
smoked  product  was  from  Wisconsin. 

Comparative  figures  for  certain  years  are  given  in 
the  following  tabular  statement : 


60 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


TKAB. 

LAKE-HEERING 

PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908   

41,118,000 
32.157,000 
59,914.000 
35,741,000 
53.0(>1,000 
25.869,000 
15,908,000 

$989,000 

1903                            

815.000 

1899 

941.000 

1893                          

530.000 

1889 

717,000 

1885  .                   

(') 

1880 

(') 

1  Not  reported. 

Although  the  value  of  the  product  was  greater  in 
1908  than  in  any  previous  year,  the  quantity  of  the 
catch  of  that  year  was  exceeded  in  1889  and  1899. 

Besides  the  herring  salted  and  smoked  by  the 
fishermen,  a  considerable  quantity  was  canned  by 
establishments  located  mainly  in  Wisconsin  and 
Micliigan.  The  total  output  of  lake  herring  from 
such  factories  in  1908  was  valued  at  $480,000,  and 
was  distributed  as  follows:  Smoked,  $426,000;  salted, 
$16,000;  pickled,  $4,600;  and  frozen,  $33,000. 

The  largest  part  of  the  catch,  73  per  cent,  was  made 
with  gill  nets,  27  per  cent  was  taken  with  pound  and 
trap  nets,  and  less  than  1  per  cent  with  other  appa- 
ratus. 

Lake  trout. — The  common  lake  trout  (Cristivomer 
TMmaycush)  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes  and  in  the 
smaller  lakes  of  the  Northern  states.  In  different 
localities  these  fish  vary  greatly  in  color,  size,  and 
shape,  and  are  known  by  the  local  names  "salmon 
trout,"  "namaycush,"  "togue,"  "tuladi,"  "Mackinaw 
trout,"  "lake  sahnon,"  "black  trout,"  "reef  trout," 
"longe,"  etc.  The  "siscowet"  (C.  siscowet)  is  another 
species  of  lake  trout.  It  is  found  principally  in  Lake 
Superior. 

The  lake  trout  was  caught  only  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and 
the  value  reported  for  this  species  in  1908  was  $800,000, 
or  21  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  products  from 
these  waters.  Of  the  total  value  of  the  United  States 
fishery  products  this  fish  contributed  somewhat  more 
than  1  per  cent,  and  of  that  of  fish  proper  nearly  3  per 
cent.  It  was  taken  by  the  fisheries  of  every  state 
bordering  the  Great  Lakes,  but  53  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  product  was  reported  by  the  fisheries  of 
Micliigan  and  43  per  cent  by  those  of  Wisconsin.  In 
both  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  lake  trout  ranked  first 
in  value  among  the  fishery  products,  contributing  29 
per  cent  of  tlie  total  value  of  the  catch  in  the  former 
state  and  32  per  cent  in  the  latter.  The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  the  statistics  of  the  catch,  by 
states: 


LAKE-TBOUT  PRODUCT:   1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

,     Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

12.024,000 

100 

t800,000 

100 

Michigan 

6.798,000 
4,710,000 
160,000 
215,000 
130,000 
21,000 

57 

39 

1 

2 

1 
(■) 

424.000 

340.000 

13,000 

12,000 

9,600 

1,500 

53 

43 

Illinois 

2 

2 

Indiana  

1 

.Vll  other  states  ' 

(») 

1  Includes  New  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  Ohio.        *  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

Next  to  lake  herring,  lake  trout  was  the  most  valu- 
able species  taken  in  the  Great  Lakes. 

Of  the  total  value  reported  for  this  species,  $546,000 
was  reported  from  Lake  Michigan,  this  amount  con- 
stituting 35  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  products 
of  this  lake,  and  being  exceeded  only  by  the  value 
reported  for  the  lake-herring  product. 

The  distribution  of  the  quantity  and  value  of  the 
catch  by  fishing  grounds  was  as  follows: 


LAKE-TROUT  PRODUCT:  1908. 

nSHmO  GROUND. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total       

12,024,000 

100 

J800.000 

100 

Lake  Michigan  

7,892,000. 

2,752.00Cf 

1,359,000 

14,000 

6,900 

66 
23 
11 

(') 

(') 

546.000 

163.000 

89.000 

1,100 

400 

68 

20 

Lake  Huron  

11 

0) 

(') 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Comparative    figures    for    previous 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


canvasses    are 


YEAR. 

LAKE-TEOUT 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

12,024,000 
16,132,000 
10,012,000 
15,073.000 
11,202.000 
12,587.000 
6,805,000 

J800.000 

1903                                   

723.000 

431,000 

1893                                        

585,000 

453,000 

1885        

0) 

(') 

'  Not  reported. 


The  quantity  of  the  catch  in  1908  was  smaller  than 
that  reported  at  several  previous  canvasses,  but  its 
value  has  never  been  exceeded.     AU  of  the  1908  prod- 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


61 


net  was  sold  fresli  except  353,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$19,000,  which  were  salted. 

The  bulk  of  the  value  of  the  lake-trout  catch,  76 
per  cent,  represents  the  value  of  the  catch  made  with 
gill  nets;  14  per  cent,  that  of  the  catch  with  lines;  10 
per  cent,  that  of  the  catch  with  pound  and  trap  nets ; 
and  a  small  amount,  that  of  the  catch  with  fyke  and 
hoop  nets  and  seines.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  statistics  of  the  catch,  by  apparatus  of 
capture : 


• 

LAKE-TROUT  PRODUCT:  1908. 

KIND  or  APPAEATUfl. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

.\jnount. 

Per  cent 

distribu- 

Uon. 

Total 

12,024,000 

100 

$800,000 

100 

Gill  nets 

9,460,000 

1,495,000 

1,057,000 

10,000 

1,600 

79 
12 
9 

(') 

(') 

610,000 

113,000 

77,000 

800 

100 

76 

14 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 

10 
(') 

Seines           

(') 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

Lobster  (Ilomarus  americamis). — The  lobster,  a  deca- 
pod crustacean  of  great  economic  importance,  is  found 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  froni  Delaware  to  Labrador. 
It  averages  about  11  inches  in  length  and  about  2 
pounds  in  weight,  but  the  size  varies  with  localities 
and  seasons.  It  is  caught  in  pots  and  traps  especially 
constructed  for  the  purpose. 

The  value  of  the  lobster  product  in  1908,  .$1,931,000, 
placed  it  first  among  all  crustaceans,  second  only  to 
the  oyster  among  marine  invertebrates,  and  fifth 
among  the  entire  fishery  products  of  the  United  States. 
The  catch,  by  states,  is  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement.  It  will  be  noted  that  the  order  of  rank 
according  to  value  follows  more  or  less  closely  the 
geograpliical  order  from  north  to  south. 


LOBSTER  product:  190S. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

15,279,000 

100 

$1,931,000 

100 

Maine 

9,929,000 

2, 455, 000 

1,426,000 

661,000 

423,000 

264,000 

115,000 

5,500 

65 
IB 
9 
4 
3 
2 

}             ^ 

1,269,000 
307,000 
162,000 
84,000 
67,000 
43,000 
10,000 
800 

66 

16 

g 

Connecticut.         

4 

3 

New  Hampshire        

2 

}                1 

Delaware..  .        

The  lobster  product  was  essentially  a  New  England 
product,  the  catch  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states  form- 
ing less  than  4  per  cent  of  the  total.     The  Maine  lob- 


ster catch  represented  nearly  40  per  cent  of  the  value 
of  all  fishery  products  of  that  state. 

In  the  following  comparative  statement  for  the 
New  England  states  and  the  Middle  Atlantic  states, 
respectively,  statistics  are  given  of  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  catch  for  those  years  covered  by  previous 
canvasses.  The  largest  product  shown  for  any  period 
is  that  of  over  thirty  million  pounds  reported  in  1889- 
1891,  the  greater  part  of  wliich  came  from  the  New 
England  states.  By  comparing  the  returns  from  the 
New  England  states  for  1880  with  those  for  1908  a 
decrease  of  26  per  cent  in  the  quantity  of  the  catch 
and  an  increase  of  292  per  cent  in  its  value  are  shown. 


LOBSTER  PRODUCT. 

STATE  GROUP  AND  YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

New  England  states: 

1908 

14,733,000 
11,324.000 
14,756,000 
14.602.000 
30.450,000 
27,674,000 

545,000 
374.000 
252,000 
485,000 
339,000 

$1,857,000 

1905                               

1,319,000 

1902 

1,337,000 

1898               .                

1,277.000 
&34.000 

1889 

1S87 

732,000 

Middle  Atlantic  states: 

1908                                  

74.000 

1904   

40.000 

1901 

30.000 

1S97   

40.000 

1891 

29,000 

To  a  certain  extent  the  growth  of  the  lobster  fishery 
under  the  protection  of  restrictive  laws  is  directly 
connected  with  the  history  of  the  lobster-canning 
industry  of  Maine,  first  started  in  1842.  At  first 
the  lobsters  used  for  canning  varied  in  weight 
from  3  to  10  pounds,  but  gradually,  owing  to  the  high 
price  obtainable  for  fresh  lobsters,  the  weight  fell  untU 
lobsters  weighing  as  low  as  three-fourths  of  a  pound 
were  employed.  As  a  result  of  the  very  perceptible 
diminution  in  the  annual  product  caused  by  this 
destruction  of  the  young,  canneries  were  in  1879  pro- 
liibited  from  pacldng  lobsters  except  from  April  1  to 
August  1,  while  in  1883  it  was  made  illegal  to  can 
lobsters  less  than  9  inches  in  length.  The  canning 
season  was  subsequently  shortened  by  law  until  ia 
1891  it  was  limited  to  the  weeks  between  April  20  and 
June  1 .  The  last  blow  to  the  canning  business,  which 
had  been  rapidly  dechning,  was  given  in  1895,  when 
the  minimum  length  for  canning  was  fixed  at  10^ 
inches.  Since  this  legislation  was  passed  the  industry 
has  disappeared  from  Maine.  As  early  as  1884  every 
state  interested  had  passed  laws  to  regulate  and  pro- 
tect the  lobster  fishery.  At  about  the  same  time 
artificial  propagation  was  begun  by  the  United  States 
Fish  Commission  in  an  endeavor  to  check  the  dimi- 
nution and  possibly  increase  the  supply;  but  so  far 
these  efl'orts  have  met  with  little  success.  In  no  state 
can  lobsters  shorter  than  9  inches  now  be  taken, 
while  in  all  the  states  the  destruction  of  the  female 


62 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


carrying  eggs  is  prohibited.  Not  only  are  the  fry  and 
larvffi  artificially  hatched  and  liberated,  but  the  young 
lobsters  are  protected  through  the  fourth  or  fifth 
larvae  stages,  in  order  to  insure  them  against  the  many 
dangers  they  encounter  during  the  earlier  period  of 
their  existence. 

Since  the  lobster-canning  business  in  the  United 
States  has  ceased,  the  importation  of  lobsters  has 
greatly  increased.  The  following  tabular  statement 
shows  the  importation  of  lobsters,  canned  and  un- 
canned,  for  1890,  1900,  and  1908,  for  the  fiscal  years 
ending  June  30 : 


IMPORTS  OF  LOBSTERS. 

soimcE. 

1908                               1900 

1890 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Value. 

Total 

8,213,000 

$1,401,000 

7,497,000 

$931,000 

$568,000 

British  Alriea 

136,000 

8,064,000 

6,300 

7,700 

23,000 

1,376.000 

1,600 

1,800 

144,000 

7,329,000 

17,000 

7,100 

11,000 

915,000 

3,400 

1,400 

Canada , 

491,000 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador.. 

76,000 
800 

The  entire  catch  was  made  in  pots  or  traps.  The 
lobsters  are  taken  from  the  traps  and  put  into  floating 
cages  called  cars,  where  they  are  kept  until  enough  are 
gathered  to  warrant  shipment.  They  are  marketed 
either  alive  or  boiled.  On  account  of  the  higher  price 
received  for  the  former  the  dealers  often  keep  them 
until  sold  in  "live-cars,"  which  are  similar  to  those 
used  by  the  fishermen  but  much  larger.  Dealers  often 
build  large  pounds  sometimes  covering  a  number  of 
acres,  where  lobsters  are  fed  until  a  satisfactory  price 
may  be  obtained. 

Lobster,  spiny. — Closely  allied  to  the  American  lob- 
ster is  the  spiny  or  rock  lobster,  often  called  craw- 
fish or  crayfish,  found  on  the  coast  of  California  from 
Monterey  to  San  Diego,  and  also  along  the  Gulf  coast 
of  Florida.  Its  flesh  is  coarser  and  less  tender  than 
that  of  the  eastern  lobster,  but  its  characteristics  and 
habits  are  similar.  The  spiny  lobster  is  more  active, 
however,  swimming  more  rapidly  through  the  water 
and  more  often  escaping  from  the  ordinary  lobster  pots. 

The  total  catch  in  the  United  States  in  1908  was 
626,000  pounds,  valued  at  $71,000,  which  was  a  little 
more  than  half  the  quantity  caught  in  1902-1904,  but 
about  equal  to  the  normal  catch  for  the  past  ten  years. 
This  fishery  has  reached  much  larger  proportions  in 
California  than  in  Florida.  In  1908,  573,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $69,000,  were  caught  in  California  and  only 
53,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,600,  in  Florida.  The 
statistics  of  the  catch  of  California  and  of  Florida  for 


those  years  for  which  returns  are  available  are  given 
in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SPINT-L0B3TER  PRODUCT. 

STATE   AND  YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

California: 

1908    

573.000 
1.078,000 
607,000 
658,000 
303,000 
272,000 
278,000 
266,000 
#210,000 

63.000 
56,000 
158,000 

$09,000 

1904                                               

43,000 

1899   

14,000 

1895 

13,000 

1892 

8,600 

1891                                  

7,700 

1890 

7,700 

1889                            

7,300 

1880 

6,600 

Florida: 

1908 

2,600 

1902..   .             

3,300 

1897                                                                 

3,200 

In  California  the  spiny-lobster  product  increased 
steadily  from  1880  to  1899.  In  1904  there  was  an 
abnormal  catch,  but  in  1908  the  total  catch,  while 
greater  than  that  in  1895,  was  slightly  less  than  the 
catch  in  1899. 

The  entire  catch  in  the  state  of  California  in  1908 
was  made  with  traps.  Formerly  set  nets  were  used 
extensively,  especially  by  the  Japanese  fishermen,  but 
with  great  damage  to  the  industry,  for  if  small  lobsters 
under  legal  size  were  caught  in  these  nets,  it  was  almost 
impossible  to  remove  them  without  seriously  maiming 
or  crippling  them.  As  early  as  1894  the  several  coun- 
ties in  California  where  these  lobsters  were  caught 
had  made  local  provisions  prohibiting  the  sale  or 
catching  of  lobsters  from  May  15  to  July  15,  and  fixing 
1  pound  as  the  minimum  weight.  They  are  now  pro- 
tected by  state  laws  establishing  a  closed  season  from 
February  15  to  September  15  and  limiting  the  size  to 
be  caught. 

The  Cahfornia  spiny  lobster  is  canned  as  well  as 
sold  fresh. 

Mackerel  (Scomber  scombnis). — The  mackerel  is 
found  in  the  north  Atlantic  south  as  far  as  Cape  Hat- 
teras.  It  ranges  from  9  to  18  inches  in  length  and 
from  one-half  pound  to  3  pounds  in  weight,  and  is 
caught  in  purse  seines,  pound  nets,  weirs,  gill  nets, 
etc.,  and  with  hook  and  line.  Small  mackerel  are 
known  as  "spikes"  when  from  5  to  6  inches  in  length, 
as  "blinkers"  when  from  7  to  8  inches  in  length,  and 
as  "tinkers"  when  9  inches  in  length. 

The  catch  in  1908  amounted  to  12,103,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $848,000.  Four-fifths  of  tliis  quantity  was 
marketed  fresh  and  the  remaining  one-fifth  was  salted. 
All  of  the  salted  mackerel,  except  a  small  amount 
reported  from  Maine,  was  taken  by  the  vessel  fisheries 
of  Massachusetts.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  statistics  of  the  catch,  by  states: 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


68 


UACKEEEL  PSODVCT:  1908. 

coKDinoN  or  pboduct  and  state. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

12.103,000 

100 

$848,000 

100 

9,870,000 
2,233,000 

10,453,000 

8,222.000 

2,231,000 

380,000 

378,000 

2,200 

537,000 

501,000 

122,000 

106,000 

4,400 

82 
18 

86 

68 

IS 

3 

3 

0) 

4 
4 

1 
1 
(') 

686,000 
162,000 

761,000 

600,000 

161,000 

31,000 

31,000 

200 

25,000 

14,000 

8,900 

6,600 

900 

81 

Salted     

19 

90 

Fresh 

71 

Salted  

19 

4 

Fresh 

4 

(') 

Rhode  Island 

3 

2 

1 

New  York 

1 

Maryland 

(') 

iLesc 

than  1  per  ce 

nt. 

The  quantity  and  value  of  the  mackerel  catch  for 
prior  years,  so  far  as  statistics  are  available,  are  given 
in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


TEAK. 

XACKEREt. 

PEODCCT. 

Qiiantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

12,103,000 
16, .324, 000 
20,359,000 
8,960,000 
16,212,000 

$848,000 

1904-6 

1,107,000 

1902                       

1,137,000 

1897-98 

491,000 

1888                       

1,109,000 

The  data  given  for  1902  are  for  the  New  England 
states  alone,  there  being  no  statistics  for  the  Middle 
Atlantic  states  for  that  year.  The  catch  of  the  Middle 
Atlantic  states,  however,  is  of  slight  relative  impor- 
tance, having  constituted,  in  the  years  for  which 
figures  are  available,  only  about  2  per  cent  of  the 
total. 

About  72  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  mackerel 
product  represented  the  value  of  the  catch  with  seines, 
22  per  cent  the  value  of  that  made  with  gill  nets, 
5  per  cent  the  value  of  that  with  pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs,  and  1  per  cent  the  value  of  the  cap- 
ture with  lines. 

The  statistics  for  the  chub  mackerel  (Scomber 
japonicus)  and  the  Spanish  mackerel  {S comber omorus 
macvlatus)  are  not  included  in  the  foregoing  presenta- 
tion. The  catch  of  the  chub  mackerel  in  1 908  amounted 
to  639,000  pounds,  valued  at  $16,000,  the  greater  part 
of  which  was  taken  by  Rhode  Island  fishermen.  While 
this  species  closely  resembles  the  common  mackerel, 
and  is  an  excellent  food  fish,  the  average  price  in  1908 
was  much  lower  than  that  of  the  common  mackerel. 
The  catch  of  Spanish  mackerel  was  3,806,000  poimds, 
valued  at  $194,000,  the  greater  part  of  which  was 
reported  from  Florida. 

Menhaden  (Brevoortia  tyrannus). — The  menhaden  is 
a  fish  of  the  herring  family,  found  along  the  Atlantic 
seaboard  from  Maine  to  Florida.     It  is  known  by  a 


great  many  local  names,  the  most  common  being 
"pogy,"  "hardhead,"  "hardhead  shad,"  "bony  fish," 
"whitefish,"  "mossbunker,"  "bunker,"  "cheboy," 
"marshbanker,"  "alewife,"  "oldwife,"  "ellwife,"  "pil- 
cher,"  "green-taU,"  "bug-fish,"  "bug-shad,"  "bug- 
head,"  "fat-back,"  "yellowtail,"  "shiner,"  "herring," 
etc.  The  average  length  of  menhaden  is  from  10  to 
12  inches,  and  the  average  weight  from  two-thirds 
of  a  pound  to  1  pound.  They  are  caught  in  purse 
seines,  haul  seines,  gill  nets,  set  nets,  and  weirs. 
Their  economic  importance  is  due  mainly  to  the  oil 
and  guano  which  are  produced  from  them;  they  are 
also  used  as  bait  for  mackerel,  cod,  halibut,  haddock, 
and  sea  bass.  As  a  food  fish  they  are  sold  fresh, 
salted,  and  canned.  "Fish  meal,"  a  food  for  domestic 
animals,  is  also  made  from  them. 

The  menhaden  is  the  most  abundant  fish  found  any- 
where in  the  waters  of  the  United  States  and  forms 
one  of  the  principal  fishery  products.  The  total  catch 
in  1908  was  394,776,000  pounds,  which  quantity 
represented  one-fifth  of  the  weight  of  all  fishery  prod- 
ucts of  the  country,  and  was  nearly  70  per  cent  greater 
than  the  weight  of  the  fishery  product  next  in  rank. 
In  value,  however,  this  fish  ranked  fourteenth,  con- 
tributing $893,000  in  1908,  or  only  2  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  fishery  products.  The  catch,  by  states,  is 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement,  in  which  the 
states  are  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their 
respective  products : 


MENHADEN  PRODUCT:   1908. 

.  STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States    . 

394,776,000 

100 

$893,000 

100 

Virginia 

190,089,000 
59,815,000 
28,636,000 
57,412,000 
17,942,000 
12,417,000 
12,293,000 
12.762,000 
3,411,000 

48 
15 
7 
15 
5 
3 
3 
3 
1 

429,000 
152,000 
93,000 
70,000 
48,000 
43,000 
30,000 
22,000 
6,400 

48 

17 

10 

8 

Rhode  Island          , 

5 

S 

Maryland        

3 

New  York 

2 

1 

>  Includes  Alabama,  Florida,  Massachusetts,  and  Mississippi. 

In  1908  menhaden  fishing  was  pursued  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  Massachusetts  to  North  Carolina, 
and  a  small  quantity  of  the  fish  was  also  taken  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  off  the  coast  of  Florida.  The  menha- 
den is  very  irregular  in  its  movements.  Some  years 
it  goes  as  far  north  as  Nova  Scotia,  and  several  men- 
haden factories  are  situated  in  Maine  ready  to  be 
operated  when  the  fish  appear  on  that  coast.  In  1908 
these  factories  were  not  operated.  In  1900  this  fish 
was  found  along  the  coast  of  Texas,  but  none  was 
taken  in  that  locality  in  1908.  Menhaden  approach 
the  coast  waters  upon  the  advent  of  warm  weather 
and  remain  until  the  water  cools.     Thev  are  seen  as 


64 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


early  as  March  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  but  not  until  much 
later  in  the  more  northern  waters.  They  usually  leave 
the  colder  waters  of  the  North  early  in  September,  but 
are  found  around  Cape  Ilatteras  as  late  as  January. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  thoroughly  comparable  data 
for  former  years  for  the  United  States  as  a  whole,  but 
composite  statistics  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement  for  the  years  1880,  1889-1891,  1901-2,  and 
1908: 


MENHADEN  PRODUCT. 

YEAB. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

394.776,000 

■  531,280,000 

448,573.000 

670,424.000 

$893,000 

1901-2 

1, 075, 000 

1889-1891 

1,060,000 

1880 

(1) 

1  Not  reported. 

This  fishery  appears  to  have  been  less  profitable  in 
1908  than  in  former  years. 

Purse  and  haul  seines  were  the  principal  forms  of 
apparatus  of  capture  used  in  this  fishery,  these  two 
alone  taking  94  per  cent  of  the  total  quantitj^  in  1908. 
Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  giil  nets  took  6  per  cent  of 
the  product,  while  all  other  apparatus  contributed  less 
than  1  per  cent.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  distribution  of  the  product  by  apparatus  of 
capture: 


MENHADEN  PRODHCT:   1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount.   ' 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

394,776,000 

100 

$893,000 

100 

371.636.000 

21.138.000 

1,983.000 

18,000 

94 
5 
1 

822,000 

67,000 

3,300 

200 

92 

Pound  and  trap  nets.. 

8 

Gill  nets 

^\ 

All  other 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

MuUets  (Mugil  cephalus  and  M.  curema). — Two  spe- 
cies of  mullet,  known  as  the  striped  mullet  and  the 
white  mullet,  figure  among  the  fishery  products  of  the 
United  States.  The  striped  mullet  is  found  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida  and  on  the 
coast  of  southern  California,  ascending  streams;  and 
the  white  mullet,  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod 
southward.  Local  names  are  "bluefish  mummichog," 
"jumping  muUet,"  "sand  mullet,"  "fat-back,"  "sil- 
ver mullet,"  "big-eyed  mullet,"  "blue-back  mullet," 
"Liza,"  and  "Josea."  M.  cephalus  is  the  most 
important  food  fish  of  the  South,  and  greatly  surpasses 
M.  curema  both  in  numbers  and  in  economic  impor- 
tance. It  averages  about  1  foot  in  length  and  1  pound 
in  weight,  but  sometimes  reaches  a  weight  of  from  4 
to  5  pounds  and  a  length  of  2  feet.  It  is  caught  in 
haul  seines,  gill  nets,  cast  nets,  pound  nets,  etc.,  and 


is  sold  fresh  and  salted;  the  roe  is  also  very  valuable 
food,  and  is  sold  fresh,  salted,  smoked,  and  dried. 

Mullet  in  1908  ranked  thirteenth  in  value  among 
the  fishery  products  of  the  United  States.  Its  value, 
including  that  of  roe,  was  $908,000,  forming  2  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  entire  fishery  pi-oduct  and  3  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  fish  product  proper.  In  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico  fisheries,  from  which  over  half  of  the  total 
was  obtained,  it  ranked  fourth  in  value  and  repre- 
sented 11  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products 
reported  for  these  fisheries.  The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  mullet  catch  by  states,  which  are 
arranged  according  to  the  value  of  their  product: 


MtJLLET  product:   1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amoimt. 

Per  cent 

distri- 
bution. 

United  States 

33,703,000 

100 

S908.000 

lOO 

Florida 

24,582,000 

5,070,000 

1,636.000 

1,035,000 

664.000 

264,000 

133.000 

194,000 

47,000 

59,000 

73 
15 
5 
3 
2 
1 
(') 
1 

637,000 

175, 000 

33,000 

20,000 

19,000 

9,400 

6.600 

5.400 

1,600 

2,600 

70 

North  Carolina 

19 

4 

Mississippi   

2 

2 

Virginia 

1 

1 

Georgia        

1 

(') 

All  other  states  2 

(') 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

"  Includes  Delaware,  Texas,  New  Jersey,  California,  and  New  York. 

Florida,  in  which  state  mullet  was  the  leading  prod- 
uct, furnished  the  bulk  of  the  catch. 

The  mullet  reported  as  salted  amounted  to  3,020,000 
pounds,  with  a  value  of  $122,000,  of  which  1,885,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $80,000,  were  from  North  Carolina; 
1,046,000  pounds,  valued  at  $39,000,  from  Florida; 
and  89,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,100,  from  South 
Carolina.  The  balance  was  marketed  fresh.  In- 
cluded with  this  salted  mullet  are  135,000  pounds  of 
salted  roe,  valued  at  $15,000. 

The  value  of  the  total  mullet  product  in  1908  was 
greater  than  that  for  any  previous  year,  although  the 
quantity  was  exceeded  in  1902-1904.  The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  the  yield  for  those  years  for 
which  statistics  are  available: 


TEAS. 

MULLET  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

33,703,000 
41,882,000 
21,425,000 
121,258,000 
10,185,000 
8.237,000 

$908,000 

1902-1904   ..               

716,000 

1897-1899 

333,000 

1890-91     

392,000 

1888  s                                                                                  

243,000 

1880 »                      

224,000 

I  Exclusive  of  the  product  of  the  Pacific  coast  division,  for  which  the  quantity 
was  not  reported. 

'  Exclusive  of  the  product  of  the  Pacific  coast  division. 

The  quantity  and  value  of  the  salted  mullet-roe 
product  for  certain  years  are  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


65 


TKAX. 

SALTED  MULLET-SOE 
PEODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

135,000 
135,000 
144,000 
299,000 

115,000 

1902.. 

6,300 

1897 

13,000 

1890 

17,000 

Gill  nets  took  two-thirds  of  the  mullet  caught  and 
seines  almost  one-fourth. 

Mussels. — The  black,  thin-shelled  salt-water  mussel 
(Mytilus  edulis)  is  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far 
south  as  North  Carolina  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  north 
of  Monterey.  The  shells  are  used  as  a  cultch  for 
young  oysters,  as  paint  holders,  and  as  ornaments. 
Large  quantities  of  another  genus  (Modiola)  are  sold 
to  farmers  along  the  New  Jersey  and  Long  Island 
coasts  for  fertilizer.  The  fresh-water  mussels  ( Union- 
idse)  are  of  much  value  as  food  for  animals  and  birds, 
and  the  shells  are  used  in  making  pearl  buttons. 

Mussels  appear  among  the  products  of  17  states.  In 
the  case  of  the  salt-water  product  the  quantity  of  the 
catch  is  reported  on  the  contained  meat  basis,  while 
for  the  fresh-water  varieties,  which  are  taken  primarily 
for  the  shells  and  pearls,  the  quantity  represents  the 
weight  of  shells.  The  salt-water  product,  which  is  the 
product  referred  to  in  this  report  under  the  head  of 
"Mussels,"  is  included  in  the  returns  of  six  states — 
CaUfornia,  Connecticut,  Massachusetts,  New  Jersey, 
New  York,  and  Rhode  Island.  Connecticut  was  the 
only  one  of  these  states  reporting  also  the  fresh-water 
varieties.  The  remaining  11  states  which  had  mussel 
fisheries  obtained  their  product  entirely  from  the  fresh 
waters  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries. 
The  meat  of  the  salt-water  product  is  sold  for  bait  to 
fishermen  and  for  fertilizer  to  farmers,  and  is  also 
pickled  and  sold  as  an  article  of  food.  The  shell  of  the 
sal1>water  mussel  is  utilized  to  a  certain  extent  in  the 
manufacture  of  buttons  and  mother-of-pearl  articles, 
but  no  record  of  this  shell  product  enters  into  the  re- 
turns given  in  the  present  report.  The  statistics  of 
the  salt-water  product  are  given  in  the  following  tabu- 
lar statement : 


MUSSEL  product:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States        

8,542,000 

100 

$12,000 

100 

New  York 

8,175,000 

68,000 

287,000 

7,200 

3,500 

1,100 

96 
1 
3 

(') 

8,200 

1.600 

1,400 

200 

100 

100 

68 

New  Jersey 

12 

Rhode  Island  

1 

76786°— 11- 


>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 
—5 


The  products  of  the  fresh-water  mussel-shell  fisheries 
were  as  follows: 


MUSSEL.SHELL  rBODUCT:  1908. 

state. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total. 

Shells. 

PearU 
and 
slugs. 

United  States 

81,869,000 

$692,000 

$392,000 

$300,000 

Illinois 

39,809,000 

14,431,000 

8,060,000 

4,699,000 

3,413,000 

2,170,000 

1,150,000 

767,000 

1,697,000 

6,403.000 

170,000 

200.000 

355,000 

155,000 

70.000 

44.000 

20,000 

14,000 

12,000 

8,400 

7,000 

6,400 

1,600 

800 

184,000 

81,000 

42,000 

33.000 

18,000 

9,400 

6,900 

4,700 

6.600 

6,400 

1,000 

800 

170,000 

74,000 

28,000 

11,000 

1,900 

4,200 

5,400 

3,700 

Kentucky 

Wisconsin 

Ohio 

Missouri 

600 

Michigan 

Illinois  reported  52  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the 
mussel-shell  product  and  considerably  more  than 
one-half  of  the  value  of  the  pearl  output.  Indiana 
was  next  in  order,  contributing  a  product  valued  at 
22  per  cent  of  the  total.  The  fisheries  of  the  Ohio 
River  and  its  tributaries,  during  1908,  were  more 
prolific  than  those  of  the  Mississippi  River  proper. 
Of  the  total  value  of  the  Illinois  product,  $114,000 
came  from  the  Ohio  River,  which,  added  to  the  value 
of  the  yield  from  Indiana,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Ten- 
nessee, made  a  total  of  $309,000  as  the  value  of  the 
mussel-shell  product  of  this  river  and  its  tributaries. 
The  Illinois  River  produced  shells  valued  at  $139,000, 
which  leaves  a  balance  of  $239,000  as  the  value  of  those 
reported  from  the  Mississippi  and  its  other  tributaries. 
Considerably  over  half  the  value  of  pearls  reported 
($154,000)  was  from  the  Ohio  River  district,  aa 
compared  with  a  value  of  $146,000  reported  from 
the  Mississippi  River  district,  including  the  fisheries 
of  the  Illinois  River.  Of  shells,  however,  the  Missis- 
sippi River  district,  including  the  Illinois  River,  pro- 
duced a  quantity  valued  at  $230,000,  compared  with 
the  product  of  the  Oliio  River  district,  which  had  a 
value  of  $156,000.  In  the  Ohio  River  district  the 
mussel  product  was  much  more  valuable  than  that 
of  all  other  fishery  products  combined,  and  in  the 
Mississippi  River  district  it  was  second  only  to  carp. 

The  total  shell  product  for  1908  shows  an  increase 
of  72  per  cent  in  quantity  and  81  per  cent  in  value, 
compared  with  1899,  when  the  quantity  was  47,648,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $216,000.  The  yield  of  pearls  was 
not  reported  in  1899.  In  the  returns  of  shells  for  that 
year  only  five  states  were  represented — Illinois,  Iowa, 
Minnesota,  Missouri,  and  Wisconsin.  The  Illinois 
product  has  had  a  marked  growth  from  8,910,000 
pounds  in  1899  to  39,809,000  pounds  in  1908.  The 
Minnesota  out])ut,  too,  was  much  larger  in  1908  than 
1899.  In  the  other  three  states,  however,  there  has 
been  a  pronounced  decrease.     Iowa  in  1899  produced 


66 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


20,354,000  pounds  of  shells  and  Wisconsin  16,260,000 
pounds.  In  1908  these  two  states  produced,  respec- 
tively, 4,699,000  and  1,150,000  pounds.  In  1894  the 
industry  was  barely  started,  and  the  total  product 
was  only  196,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,700.  Of  this, 
Iowa  supplied  148,000  pounds  and  Illinois  the  balance. 

Pearling  has  uniformly  preceded  traffic  in  shells. 
In  hunting  for  pearls  the  fishers  wade  in  the  shallow 
waters,  feeling  for  the  mussels  with  their  feet  or 
looking  for  them  through  a  water  telescope,  and 
gather  them  by  hand  when  found.  In  deeper  water, 
garden  rakes,  to  which  are  attached  small  bag  nets, 
are  used  from  small  boats.  Tongs  are  also  an  imple- 
ment of  common  use.  As  the  quantity  of  pearls 
taken  becomes  less  and  the  excitement  of  hunting  for 
them  consequently  subsides,  the  fishermen  begin  to 
look  to  the  shells  for  their  main  remuneration.  They 
then  adopt  more  systematic  methods,  making  use  of 
the  crowfoot  dredge.  This  implement  consists  of  an 
iron  bar  to  which  iron  hooks  with  from  two  to  four 
prongs  are  attached  at  intervals.  As  the  bar  is 
dragged  downstream,  the  mussels,  which  lie  with  their 
valves  open  upstream,  close  tightly  upon  the  prongs 
as  soon  as  touched.  Most  of  the  boats  are  fitted  with 
motors  to  propel  them  upstream,  while  to  make  the 
best  use  of  the  current  downstream  a  device  called  a 
mule  is  attached.  The  latter  consists  of  a  square  of 
canvas  stretched  on  a  frame  and  let  into  the  water 
from  the  prow  of  the  boat,  so  that  it  presents  a  broad 
surface  for  the  current  to  act  upon. 

The  decrease  in  the  quantity  of  the  mussel  shells 
taken  in  the  Iowa  and  Wisconsin  fisheries  means  that 
the  pearl  industry  in  those  states  is  in  danger.  Manu- 
facturers have  been  interested  in  schemes  for  providing 
a  future  supply,  either  by  protective  legislation,  which 
shall  promote  natural  increase,  or  by  an  attempt  at 
private  culture.  The  latter  plan,  however,  has  not 
been  more  than  considered.  The  especially  discour- 
aging feature  is  that  at  least  10  j^ears  are  required  to 
grow  most  of  the  varieties  to  commercial  size,  during 
which  period  the  mollusk  is  beset  with  many  dangers, 
both  from  the  fish  which  prey  on  it  and  from  the  physi- 
ographical  conditions  which  surround  it.  The  only 
experiments  in  private  culture  have  been  in  the  growth 
of  pearls  within  the  mussel,  not  of  the  mussel  itself. 
These  attempts  have  not  yet  passed  beyond  the  experi- 
mental stage.  The  enactment  of  protective  legislation 
also  presents  its  problems.  Because  of  the  different  size 
of  various  species  at  maturity  no  uniform  restriction 
as  to  minimum  size  can  be  prescribed,  and  if  a  specific 
size  for  each  variety  were  established  it  would  be 
impossible,  owing  to  the  close  resemblance  between 
nearly  all  of  the  different  species,  for  any  but  biolo- 
gists to  do  the  gathering.  Furthermore,  as  the  spawn- 
ing time  is  very  irregular  and  uncertain,  the  proper 
period  for  a  closed  season  is  difficult  to  determine. 
The  state  of  Illinois,  however,  has  enacted  legislation 


estabhsliing  a  closed  season  from  October  1  to  April  1 
and  has  set  Umits  to  the  capacity  of  apparatus  used. 

The  importance  of  mussel  shells  dates  from  1891, 
when  a  German  opened  a  button  factory  at  Muscatine, 
Iowa,  modeled  after  those  in  Germany.  His  atten- 
tion had  been  directed  to  this  country  by  tariff  regu- 
lations and  attracted  to  tliis  section  of  the  United 
States  by  the  abundance  of  shells  left  after  the  opera- 
tions of  pearl  fishers.  Previous  to  tliis  an  attempt  to 
establish  such  a  factory  had  been  made  in  Tennessee, 
but  had  failed.  The  rapidity  of  the  development  of 
this  industry  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  at  the  close 
of  1897,  13  factories  had  been  opened,  while  during  the 
first  six  months  of  1898,  36  others  were  established  in 
Iowa,  Wisconsin,  and  Illinois. 

Pearl  fishing  was  followed  throughout  the  Missis- 
sippi Valley  by  the  Indians  and  by  the  early  settlers 
in  a  small  way,  but  the  first  excitement  in  recent  years 
was  in  1878  in  Ohio.  Since  that  time  at  regular  inter- 
vals "crazes"  have  developed  in  one  section  or  an- 
other. Among  these  "crazes"  may  bo  mentioned  that 
in  Wisconsin  beginning  in  1889  and  later  extending 
down  the  river,  that  in  Arkansas  in  1895,  that  on  the 
Clinch  River  in  Tennessee  in  1901,  that  on  the  Wabash 
in  1903,  and  that  on  the  Illinois  River  in  1906.  At  the 
height  of  the  excitement  in  Arkansas  it  is  estimated 
that  10,000  persons  were  engaged  in  pearl  fishing.  The 
shells  of  the  muSfeels  were  a  waste  product  until  the 
opening  of  the  button  factories.  Now  the  shells  are 
the  important  product  of  the  industry,  while  pearls 
furnish  the  speculative  element. 

Oyster  (Ostrea  virginica). — Oysters  ranked  first  in 
value  among  all  fishery  products  of  the  United  States 
in  1908,  with  a  total  product  of  33,330,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $15,713,000,  or  29  per  cent  of  the  value  of 
all  fishery  products.  Of  the  total  oyster  product, 
market  oysters  represented  77  per  cent  in  quantity 
and  81  per  cent  in  value.  Although  oysters  from  pri- 
vate beds  formed  but  44  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity, 
yet  culture  enhances  the  value  to  such  an  extent  that 
their  total  value  was  greater  than  that  of  the  product 
from  public  areas.  In  the  case  of  private  areas  the 
ownership  often  lies  in  the  state.  In  some  states,  how- 
ever, it  is  considered  a  part  of  the  riparian  property  of 
the  landowners,  and  in  others — Connecticut  and  New 
York,  for  example — oyster  grounds  have  been  sold  out- 
right and  the  state  has  no  further  claim  thereon. 

The  statistics  for  1908  of  market  and  seed  oysters 
from  public  and  private  areas  are  given  in  the  next 
tabular  statement. 

The  oyster  industry  was  reported  for  every  state  on 
both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  New  Hampshire.  The  greatest  production 
was  from  the  beds  of  Long  Island  Sound  and  Chesa- 
peake Bay.  While  Connecticut  ranked  first  in  the 
value  of  this  product,  there  was  little  difference  in  the 
value  of  the  output  of  the  states  of  Connecticut,  New 
York,  Virginia,  and  Maryland,  each  of  wliich  yielded 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


67 


oysters  valued  at  over  $2,000,000.  Oysters  were  the 
principal  fishery  product  in  15  of  the  21  states  in  which 
oyster  fisheries  were  carried  on,  viz,  Alabama,  Connec- 
ticut, Delaware,  Georgia,  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Missis- 
sippi, New  Jersey,  New  York,  North  Carolina,  Penn- 
sylvania, Rhode  Island,  South  Carolina,  Texas,  and 
Virginia. 


OYSTER  product:  1908. 

KIND  AND  AREA. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Bushels. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total.. 

33,330,000 

100 

115,713,000 

100 

Market  oysters 

25,470,000 

76 

12,721,000 

81 

14,806,000 
10,665,000 

7,859,000 

44 
32 

24 

4,416,000 
8,305,000 

2,992,000 

28 

From  private  areas. . 

53 

Seed  oysters 

19 

From  public  areas 

3,851,000 
4,008,000 

12 
12 

1,035,000 
1,957,000 

7 

From  private  areas .  - 

12 

The  greatest  yield  of  oysters  from  natural  or  public 
beds  was  in  Chesapeake  Bay,  the  combined  product 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia  from  public  areas  repre- 
senting 47  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  58  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  total  product  from  public  areas.  In 
Virginia  the  cultivation  of  oyster  beds  was  also  car- 
ried on  extensively,  and  in  fact  over  57  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  oysters  produced  in  Virginia  was  con- 
tributed by  private  areas.  In  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Virginia, 
Georgia,  and  the  Pacific  coast  states,  the  majority  of 
the  oysters  were  dredged  from  private  areas,  while  in 
Maine,  Maryland,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina, 
Florida,  and  the  Gulf  states,  the  oysters  were  taken 
mostly  from  public  beds.  Of  the  product  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  Delaware  the  larger  part  was  taken  from 
public  areas,  but  the  product  from  private  areas  had 
a  greater  value. 

The  statistics  of  the  quantity  and  value  of  both 
market  and  seed  oysters,  by  states  ranked  according  to 
the  amount  reported,  are  given  in  the  following  table: 


'  The  oyster  catch  Is  credited  to  the  state  In  which  the  home  port  of  the  fisherman  is  located. 


■  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


68 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  following  tabular  statement  gives  comparative  statistics  for  1908  and  earlier  years,  by  geographic 
divisions: 


OTSTEB  PRODUCT. 

DIVISION. 

1908 

1897-1901 1 

1889-1892  3 

1880 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

United  States 

33,330,000 

$15,713,000 

26,910,000 

$14,375,000 

28,204,000 

$16,152,000 

22,195,000 

$9,035,000 

27,268,000 

13,434,000 

24,011,000 

12,583,000 

24,979,000 

14,507,000 

21,602,000 

8,712,000 

5,332,000 
16,982,000 
4,364,000 

6,343,000 
309,000 

3,771,000 

8,842,000 

821,000 

1,586,000 
694,000 

2,649,000 

19,750,000 

1,612,000 

2,380,000 
519,000 

1,911,000 

10,288,000 

385,000 

749,000 
1,043,000 

1,726,000 

21,346,000 

1,192,000 

2,941,000 
3,592,000 

1,393,000 

12,403,000 

254,000 

796,000 
849,000 

537,000 

20,750.000 

310,000 

579.000 
15,000 

(S5,000 

10,932,000 
120,000 

313,000 

Pacific  coast  division 

10,000 

'  Combined  statistics  for  South  Atlantic  states  and  Gulf  of  Mexico,  1897;  New  England  states,  1898;  Pacific  coast  states,  1899;  and  Middle  Atlantic  states,  1900-1901. 
«  Combined  statistics  for  New  England  states,  1889;  Gulf  of  Mexico,  1890;  Middle  Atlantic  and  South  Atlantic  states,  1891;  and  Pacific  coast  states,  1892. 


A  marked  increase  is  apparent  in  the  product  of  the 
New  England  and  of  the  South  Atlantic  states  and  a 
decrease  in  that  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states.  In 
1880  the  product  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states  formed 
94  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity,  while  in  1908  it 
formed  but  51  per  cent.  The  product  of  the  New 
England  states,  on  the  other  hand,  progressively  in- 
creased in  quantity,  representing  16  per  cent  of  the 
total  in  1908,  as  compared  with  2  per  cent  in  1880, 
while  the  proportion  represented  by  the  product  of  the 
South  Atlantic  states  increased  from  1  per  cent  of  the 
total  quantity  in  1880  to  13  per  cent  in  1908. 

Pilceperehes  {Stizostedion  vitreum  and  S.  canadense). — 
The  "wall-eyed  pike"  {8.  vitreum)  is  known  as  "glass 
eye,"  "pike  perch,"  "yellow  pike,"  "dory,"  and  "blue 
pike"  on  the  Great  Lakes,  and  as  "salmon,"  "jack," 
"okow,"  "blowfish,"  and  "green  pike"  in  other 
localities.  It  is  an  excellent  food  fish  and  sometimes 
reaches  a  weight  of  20  pounds.  The  sauger,  or  sand- 
perch  (8.  cariadense),  which  is  smaller  and  less  im- 
portant as  a  food  fish,  is  especially  abundant  in 
the  Great  Lakes.  The  catch  of  pike  perch  in  1908 
amounted  to  15,247,000  pounds,  valued  at  $580,000. 
Of  the  total  amount,  15,115,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$569,000,  were  taken  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the  bal- 
ance, all  of  which  was  of  the  wall-eyed  species,  was 
caught  in  the  Mississippi  River  or  its  tributaries. 

This  fish  was  taken  in  17  states,  but  almost  97 
per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  was  caught  in  Ohio, 
Pennsylvania,  New  York,  and  Michigan.  Ohio  alone 
is  credited  with  57  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and 
50  per  cent  of  the  value.  The  statistics  of  the  catch, 
by  states  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  the  product, 
are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


PIKE-PEBCH  pkodcct:  1908. 

STATB. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

15.247,000 

100 

$580,000 

100 

Ohio 

Michigan 

8,625,000 
1,194.000 
2,956,000 
2,001,000 

273,000 
88,000 

110,000 

57 
8 
19 
13 
2 
1 
1 

288,000 
98,000 
98,000 
68,000 
12,000 
6,900 
9,000 

50 
17 

^? 

New  V'ork 

2 

Wisconsin 

1 

2 

1  Includes  Arkansas,  Illinois.  Indiana,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Kentucky,  Louisiana, 
Missouri,  Nebraska,  Tennessee,  and  West  Virginia. 

As  indicated  by  a  comparison  of  the  values  for  1908 
and  previous  years,  this  fish  is  growing  rapidly  in 
importance.  No  figures  are  available  for  the  Missis- 
sippi River  district  in  1899,  but  as  the  Great  Lakes 
furnish  practically  the  entire  amount,  the  figures 
would  be  changed  very  little  by  the  addition  of  the 
river  catch.  The  statistics  of  the  catch  for  previous 
years  are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


TXAB 

PIKE-PERCII  PRODUCT 
OF  THE  GREAT  LAKES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

15,116,000 
9,998.000 
11,070,000 

$.569. 000 

1903 

4O7,O()0 

1899 

381,000 

This  fish  is  taken  principally  in  gill  nets  and  pound 
nets,  less  than  6  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  in  1908 
being  caught  with  other  kinds  of  apparatus. 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


'69 


Pollack  {Pollachius  virens). — The  pollack,  a  food 
fish  of  importance,  is  found  mainly  off  the  New  Eng- 
land coast.  It  sometimes  appears  as  far  south  as 
Virginia.  The  average  weight  is  about  10  pounds. 
The  sounds  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  glue,  the 
livers  are  sokl  in  large  quantities  for  the  manufacture 
of  oil,  and  the  tongues  are  cut  out  and  sold  fresh. 

The  pollack  catch  in  1908  amounted  to  29,462,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $402,000,  less  than  1  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  for  all  fishery  products  and  over  1  per  cent 
of  that  for  fish  proper.  The  value  of  the  catches  of  the 
fisheries  of  Massachusetts  and  Maine  combined  repre- 
sented 97  per  cent  of  the  total.  The  statistics  by 
states  are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


POLLACK  PEODUCT:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

29,462,000 

100 

»402,000 

100 

Massachusetts 

20,006,000 
8,941,000 
266,000 
133,000 
84,000 
25,000 
6,300 

68 

30 

1 

(') 
(') 
(') 
« 

313,000 

75,000 

7,800 

3,500 

1,100 

800 

100 

78 

19 

Rliode  Island 

2 

New  York 

1 

New  Jersey 

(') 

New  Hampshire 

■  Less 

than  I  per  ce 

nt. 

The  yield  for  1908  shows  a  large  increase  in  value, 
compared  with  the  product  of  1905,  but  the  weight 
was  approximately  the  same  for  the  two  years.  In 
both  of  these  years,  however,  the  product  was  much 
greater  than  in  any  other  year  for  which  statistics 
are  available,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


POLLACK  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

29,462,000 

29.033,000 

9,448,000 

8, 442, 000 

6,125,000 

1402,000 

305,000 

65,000 

1904-5 

1897-98 

1889 

1888 

67,000 

A  small  proportion  of  the  pollack  catch,  less  than  5 
per  cent  of  the  total  product,  was  salted  by  the  fisher- 
ies in  1908,  and  a  still  smaller  percentage  was  salted 
in  1905. 

The  catch  is  taken  principally  in  the  vessel  fisheries, 
and  the  most  important  apparatus  used  are  lines.  In 
1908,  68  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  was  taken  with 
lines,  23  per  cent  with  seines,  and  about  8  per  cent  with 
other  kinds  of  apparatus. 

Salmon. — The  salmon  of  the  Atlantic  coast  (Salmo 
solar)  is  found  along  the  coast  of  the  New  England 
states.  At  different  ages  the  fish  are  known  as  "parrs," 


"smolts,"  "grilse,"  "kelts,"  and  "salmon."  The 
adults  weigh  from  15  to  40  pounds.  The  landlocked 
salmon,  or  fresh-water  salmon,  or  Sebago  salmon  {S. 
sehago),  is  found,  as  the  name  implies,  in  fresh  waters, 
generally  landlocked.  The  steelhead  {Salmo  gairdneri) 
is  found  in  coastal  streams  from  San  Francisco  north- 
ward. 

The  blueback  salmon  {OncorhyncTius  nerka)  is  found 
on  the  Pacific  coast  from  the  Columbia  River  north- 
ward; and  the  California  salmon,  or  chinook  salmon, 
or  quinnat  {0.  tschawytscka) ,  is  found  from  Monterey 
to  Alaska.  The  dog  salmon  (0.  Tceta)  ranges  from  the 
Sacramento  River  to  Bering  Strait;  the  humpbacked 
salmon,  or  lost  salmon  {0.  gorbuscha),  from  the  Sacra- 
mento River  to  Alaska ;  and  the  silver  salmon  or  white 
salmon  (0.  kisutch)  is  found  in  all  rivers  from  the 
Sacramento  River  to  Bering  Strait. 

The  following  are  improperly  called  salmon  and  are 
not  included  in  the  following  tables  under  that  name: 
The  California  yellow-tail  {Seriola  dorsalis)  which  is 
known  as  the  "white  salmon"  on  the  Pacific  coast; 
the  chub  {Ptychocheilus  lucius)  of  the  Colorado  River 
is  sometimes  called  salmon;  "kelp  salmon "  is  applied 
to  the  cabrilla  (Paralahrax  clathratus)  at  Monterey; 
"lake  salmon"  to  the  lake  trout  in  the  lakes  of  north- 
ern New  York;  and  "salmon"  and  "jack  salmon"  to 
the  wall-eyed  pike  in  the  streams  of  the  South. 

Next  to  oysters,  salmon  is  the  most  important  of  the 
fishery  products.  Its  value  in  1908  was  $3,347,000, 
or  6  per  cent  of  the  total.  It  was  first  in  importance 
among  the  different  species  of  fish  proper,  and  repre- 
sented 11  per  cent  of  their  total  value.  Practically 
the  entire  catch  was  made  on  the  Pacific  coast,  in 
which  district  salmon  represented  49  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  fishery  products.  The  statistics,  by 
states,  are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SALMON  PEODUCT:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Percent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

90,417,000 

100 

$3,347,000 

100 

54,312,000 

28,876,000 

9,211,000 

19,000 

100 

(•) 

60 
30 
10 

(') 

1,571,000 

1,301,000 

471,000 

3,700 

(») 

(•) 

47 

Oregon 

39 

14 

Maine 

'l^ 

Massachusetts 

(') 

I  Less  than  1  per  cent.       '  Less  than  JIOO.       '  L«ss  than  100  pounds. 

The  figures  for  the  salmon  product  given  here  are 
for  the  product  sold  in  the  open  market  or  to  the  can- 
neries. The  statistics  for  the  product  of  the  canneries 
and  packing  houses  are  given  on  page  283. 

The  statistics  of  the  product  of  the  Pacific  coast 
states,  classified  according  to  variety,  are  as  follows: 


70 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


SALMON  PRODUCT  OP  THE  PACmc  COAST  STATES:  1908. 

VABIETY. 

Total. 

California. 

Oregon. 

Washington. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

\'alue. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

90,398.000 

$3,343,000 

9.211.000 

$471,000 

26,876.000 

$1,301,000 

54.312,000 

$1,571,000 

Chinook 

39,359.000 
13,050,000 
19,144.000 
4,885.000 
13,960.000 

2,080.000 
538,000 
3(B.0O0 
234.000 
122,000 

8,846,000 
147,000 
141,000 
76,000 

460,000 
4,900 
4,200 
2,800 

18,176.000 

403,000 

4,923,000 

2,469,000 

905,000 

1,0.56,000 

20,000 

109,000 

109,000 

7,000 

12,336,000 
12,601,000 
14,080,000 
2,3.39.000 
13,056,000 

665,000 
513,000 
256,000 
123.000 
115,000 

Silver 

Steelhead 

Png,  nr  nhiim 

The  species  are  ranked  in  the  above  statement 
according  to  total  value;  according  to  quantity  the 
order  is  chinook,  silver,  dog  or  chum,  bhieback,  and 
steelhead.  The  per  cent  distribution,  by  species,  of 
the  quantity  and  value  is  given  below: 


VUKTETT. 

SALMON  PRODUCT   0? 

THE    PACIFIC  COAST 
states:    1908    (PER 
CENT      DISTRIBU- 
TION). 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Total  .             

100 

100 

Chinook      

44 
14 
21 

5 
15 

62 

16 

Silver 

11 

steelhead                          

7 

4 

The  next  tabular  statement  gives  the  statistics 
of  the  Pacific  coast  salmon  catch  for  those  years  for 
which  data  are  available. 


The  fluctuation  to  be  noted  in  earlier  years  in  the 
relative  amount  of  the  product  reported  for  Oregon 
and  Washington,  respectively,  is  due  to  the  peculiar 
habit  of  the  principal  species  caught  in  Puget  Sound 
in  coming  in  greatest  abundance  every  fourth  year, 
and  somewhat,  perhaps,  to  an  uncertainty  in  reporting 
results  of  operations  on  that  portion  of  the  Columbia 
River  which  forms  the  boundary  between  the  two 
states.  The  great  decrease  in  bulk  shown  for  Washing- 
ton in  1908,  as  compared  with  1899,  amounting  to 
nearly  50  per  cent,  is  in  marked  contrast  to  the  slight 
increase  in  the  Oregon  product,  while  the  contrast  in 
the  movement  of  the  value  since  1899  is  also  marked. 
In  California  there  was  a  decrease  in  both  quantity  and 
value  from  1888  to  1895,  but  since  then  there  has  been 
a  steady  upward  movement  in  value,  although  in  1908 
the  quantity  of  the  catch  shows  a  decrease  from  the 
high  figures  of  1904. 


SALMON   PRODUCT  OP  PACIFIC   COAST  STATES. 

YEAS. 

Total. 

California. 

Oregon. 

Washington. 

t 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                  

90,398,000 
107,309,000 
130,005,000 
86,9.36,000 
48,807,000 

$3,343,000 

3,549,000 
3,505,000 
2,447,000 
2,083,000 

9,211,000 
12,343,000 
7,283,000 
5,216,000 
8,539,000 

$471,000 
456,000 
202,000 
154,000 
411,000 

26,876,000 
26,714,000 
21,374,000 
36,426,000 
23,948,000 

$1,301,000 
1,151,000 

830,000 
1,230,000 

985,000 

54,312,000 
68,252,000 
101,348,000 
45,294,000 
16,320,000 

$1,571,000 

1904 

1,943.000 

1899                            

2,413,000 

1895 

1,063,000 

1888                    

687,000 

The  Alaska  salmon  product  in  1908,  which  is  not 
included  in  the  above  presentation,  was  198,953,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $10,672,000.  This  was  practically 
all  marketed  in  a  preserved  condition,  and  the  data 
therefor  will  be  found  in  Chapter  VIII,  which  relates 
to  the  packing  and  canning  establishments. 

Comparative  figures  for  the  salmon  catch  of  New 
England  as  reported  for  prior  years  are  as  follows : 


TEAR. 

SALMON   PRODUCT   OP 
THE  NEW  ENGLAND 

STATES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908  .                     

19.000 
86,000 
53,000 
206,000 

$3,700 

1905                                                                   

20,000 

1898                                   

10,000 

1888                                                                                

42,000 

PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


71 


A  summary  of  the  statistics  for  the  total  salmon 
catch  of  the  United  States,  obtained  by  combining  the 
figures  for  the  Alaska  salmon  product  with  those  for  the 
salmon  product  of  continental  United  States,  is  given 
in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SALMON  PRODUCT  OF  CONTINENTAL  UNITED 
STATES  AND  ALASKA:  1908. 

DIVISION. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

.\mount. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

United  States..          -  . 

289,370,000 

100 

$14,018,000 

100 

289,361,000 

100 

14,015,000 

100 

Alaska 

198,953,000 
90,398,000 

19,000 

69 
31 

10,672,000 
3,343,000 

3,700 

76 

Pacific  coast  states. 

24 

New  England  states 

(') 

>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

The  distribution  of  the  catch  of  salmon,  exclusive 
of  the  Alaska  product,  by  apparatus  of  capture,  was 
as  follows: 


SALMON  Product:  1908. 

KIND  OK  APPARATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Total 

90,417,000 

100 

13,347,000 

100 

Gill  nets 

46,219,000 

28,744,000 

13,290.IK)0 

1,823,000 

342,000 

51 

32 

15 

2 

(') 

1,941,000 

882.000 

415,000 

97,000 

12,000 

5S 

£6 

Seines                       . .           

12 

3 

All  otlier 

(') 

1  Less  tlian  1  per  cent. 

SJiad.^The  common  shad  {Alosa  sapidissima)  is 
found  on  all  the  coasts  of  the  United  States  and  in 
some  inland  waters,  the  most  important  shad  fisheries 
being  in  the  rivers  of  the  Atlantic  slope.  The  average 
weight  is  about  4  pounds  and  the  average  length 
about  2  feet. 

The  names  "mud  shad,"  "gizzard  shad,"  "winter 
shad,"  "stink  shad,"  "hickory  shad,"  and  "white- 
eyed  shad"  are  applied  to  difTerent  species.  The 
menhaden  is  called  "hardhead  shad"  about  Cape  Ann, 
"bug-shad"  in  Virginia,  and  "yellow-tailed  shad" 
from  North  Carolina  to  Florida. 

Shad  was  fourth  in  value  among  the  fishery  products 
of  the  United  States  in  1908.  Among  fish  proper  it 
was  surpassed  in  value  only  by  salmon  and  cod,  while 
in  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries,  cod  is  the  only  fish  for 
wldch  a  greater  value  was  reported.  Shad  is  indige- 
nous to  the  rivers  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  the  trans- 
planting of  this  species  to  the  Pacific  coast  was  among 
the  early  activities  of  the  United  States  Fish  Com- 
mission. The  extent  to  which  the  undertaking  suc- 
ceeded is  shown  in  the  tables  which  follow.  The 
catch  of  shad  in  1908  amounted  to  27,641,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $2,113,000,  or  4  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
entire  fishery  product  and  7  per  cent  of  the  value  of 


fish  proper.  Shad  was  reported  by  17  states,  includ- 
ing all  the  Pacific  coast  and  all  Atlantic  coast  states? 
except  New  Hampshire.  The  statistics  of  the  catch, 
bj'  states  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their 
respective  products,  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


United  States. 

Virginia 

North  Carolina 

Florida 

Maryland 

New  Jersey 

Georgia 

Delaware 

Maine 

South  Carolina 

Pennsylvania 

New  York 

Connecticut 

California 

Massachusetts 

Oregon 

Washington 

Rhode  Island 


SHAD  product:  1908. 


Quantity. 


Pounds. 


27,641,000 


7,314,000 

3,942,000 

2,836,000 

3,937,000 

3,004,000 

1,333,000 

870,000 

770,000 

464,000 

693,000 

360,000 

122,000 

1,169,000 

389,000 

431,000 

100,000 

4,600 


Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 


100 


(') 


Value. 


Amount. 


$2,113,000 


486,000 

373,000 

320,000 

247,000 

229,000 

190,000 

68,000 

42,000 

41,000 

38,000 

27,000 

18,000 

12,000 

12,000 

8,000 

1,900 

400 


Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 


100 


23 

18 

15 

12 

11 

9 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

I 

I 


'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

The  first  five  states  reported  78  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  this  product.  In  all  of  these  states  shad 
ranked  high  in  importance  among  the  various  species 
taken.  In  North  Carolina  it  was  first  in  value;  in 
Virginia  second,  ranking  next  to  oysters;  in  Maryland 
third;  and  in  Florida  and  New  Jersey  fourth. 

The  distribution  of  the  shad  catch  of  1908,  by  divi- 
sions and  state  groups,  was  as  follows: 


SHAD  product:  1908. 

division  and  state  group. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Percent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Total    

27,841,000 

100 

$2,113,000 

100 

25,941,000 

94 

2,092,000 

99 

Middle  Atlantic  states 

16,079,000 
8,572,000 
1,286,000 

1,700,000 
3,600 

58 
31 
5 

6 

1,096,000 

923,000 

72,000 

22,000 
200 

52 

44 

3 

Pacific  coast  division  

I 

(') 

>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


"  Less  than  $100. 


The  quantity  and  value  of  the  shad  reported  for 
1908  and  earlier  years  are  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement : 


TSAR. 

SHAD  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                 

27,641,000 
28,563,000 
49,787,000 
41,645,000 
35.737,000 
18,075,000 

$2,113,009 

1,702,000 

1,520,000 

1,764,000 

1888     

1,672,000 

1S80                        

996,000 

72 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  statistics  show  a  marked  decrease  in  quantity 
during  the  past  decade,  accompanied  by  an  increase 
in  value.  Prior  to  1897,  both  quantity  and  value 
increased  steadily,  but  in  that  year  an  unusually  large 
catch  demoralized  the  price  and  made  the  total  value 
much  lower  than  in  years  for  which  smaller  quantities 
were  reported.  Concerning  the  increase  in  the  shad 
product  during  these  earlier  years,  the  Report  of  the 
Commissioner  of  Fish  and  Fisheries  for  1898  (p.  104) 
states: 

There  was  a  decrease  in  the  yield  in  nearly  every  river  on  the 
coast  until  1880,  when  the  results  of  artificial  propagation  became 
apparent.  »  *  *  Since  1880  the  a^regate  yield  has  greatly 
increased.  •  *  *  It  should  be  noted,  however,  that  this  largely 
increased  yield  has  been  accompanied  and  even  surpassed  by  an 
increase  in  quantity  atnd  effectiveness  of  the  apparatus  of  capture, 
but  it  was  made  possible  by  the  results  of  artificial  propagation. 

When  the  shad  fisheries  were  at  the  height  of  their 
activity,  they  employed  nearly  25,000  men  and  used 
apparatus  valued  at  over  $2,000,000. 

The  Middle  Atlantic  states  have  always  supplied  the 
greater  proportion  of  the  shad  product,  their  contri- 
bution varying  from  more  than  one-half  to  three- 
fourths  of  the  total;  and  the  South  Atlantic  states 
have  been  next  in  importance,  with  a  fraction  varying 
from  one-fifth  to  one-third.  In  the  New  England 
states  there  has  been  little  change  from  year  to  year. 

The  greater  part  of  the  shad  product  was  sold  fresh, 
although  a  considerable  quantity  was  salted  by  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  fishermen  and  also  by  the  fishermen 
of  Maine  and  other  states.  Gill  nets  were  the  leading 
apparatus  of  capture,  and  in  1908  took  a  quantity 
representing  61  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  Pound 
and  trap  nets,  used  in  the  large  estuaries,  contributed 
29  per  cent  of  the  total  value,  while  the  catch  with 
seines  represented  8  per  cent,  and  that  with  all  other 
apparatus  2  per  cent. 

Shrimp  aivd  prawn. — The  shrimp  is  a  decapod  crus- 
tacean found  in  large  numbers  on  all  our  coasts  and  in 
many  inland  waters.  The  usual  length  is  about  2 
inches,  but  some  attain  a  larger  size.  They  are  caught 
in  dip  nets,  purse  nets,  etc.,  and  are  used  for  food  and 
bait.  The  prawn  is  generally  larger  than  the  shrimp, 
often  having  a  length  of  7  inches. 

The  catch  of  shrimp  and  prawn  in  1908  was  19,080,- 
000  pounds,  valued  at  $494,000.  The  distribution,  by 
states  ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  product, 
is  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SHBIMP  AND  PEAWN  PEODUCT 

1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States... 

19.080,000 

100 

»494,000 

100 

Louisiana 

8,581,000 

4,353,000 

4,121,000 

268,000 

247,000 

528,000 

452,000 

371,000 

118,000 

5,800 

37,000 

4,900 

1,500 

1,700 

45 
23 
22 
1 
1 
3 
2 
2 

213,000 

92,000 

81,000 

31,000 

22,000 

19.000 

19,000 

9,000 

4,400 

1,300 

1,200 

1,000 

COO 

200 

43 

Florida 

Mississippi.. 

Ifi 
6 

Washington 

4 

South  Carolina 

North  Carolina 

2 

Texas... 

I 

Massachusetts 

p) 

New  Jersey 

> 

'i 

TenTip.^Rpe 

(•) 

I  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


The  prawn  catch  included  in  the  above  was  4,706,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $104,000,  and  the  shrimp  catch 
14,374,000  pounds,  valued  at  $390,000.  The  distri- 
bution of  the  prawn  product,  by  states,  was  as  foliows: 


PRAWN  pkoduct:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States , 

4,706,000 

100 

1104,000 

100 

Florida 

4,152,000 
394,000 
160,000 

88 
8 
3 

84,000 
13,000 
7,300 

81 

12 

South  Carolina 

7 

By  a  subtraction  of  the  foregoing  figures  from  those 
presented  for  the  same  states  in  the  tabular  statement 
preceding,  figures  for  the  shrimp  catch  of  these  states 
are  found  to  be  as  follows:  Florida,  202,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $7,400;  Georgia,  134,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$6,700;  and  South  Carolina,  291,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$12,000.  In  all  the  remaining  states  the  total  catch 
was  composed  of  shrimp. 

The  bulk  of  the  shrimp  and  prawn  product  came 
from  the  warm  southern  waters,  and  by  far  the  largest 
portion  from  Louisiana.  In  both  Louisiana  and  Mis- 
sissippi shrimp  and  prawn  ranked  next  to  oysters  in 
value  among  the  fishery  products. 

The  distribution  of  the  shrimp  and  prawn  catch,  by 
divisions,  is  shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement : 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


73 


SHRIMP  AND  PBAWN  PBODCCT:   1908. 

DIVISION. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

19,080,000 

100 

$494,000 

Gulf  of  Mexico  division 

12,561.000 

6,708,000 

504,000 

306,000 

66 

30 

3 

2 

271,000 
142,000 
5.3,000 
28,000 

55 

Pacific  coiist  division 

11 

Mississippi  River  division 

In  1880  the  shrimp  and  prawn  product  was  3,214,000 
pounds,  valued  at  S209,000;  but  in  1888  the  product 
from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Pacific  coast  divi- 
sions combined  amounted  to  13,398,000  pounds,  which 
is  slightly  in  excess  of  the  output  of  these  two  divisions 
in  1908.  The  price  in  1888  was  considerably  lower 
than  at  present,  for  the  value  of  the  product  of  that 
year  was  $277,000,  compared  with  $324,000  reported 
from  the  same  divisions  in  1908.  Statistics  of  the 
product  for  the  entire  United  States  are  not  available 
for  any  one  year  prior  to  1908,  but  comparative  data 
are  presented  for  the  several  divisions  for  various 
years  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


DIVISION  AND   YEAR. 

SHRIMP  AND  PRAWN 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Gulf  Of  Mexico  division: 

1908 

12,561,000 
12,367,000 
6,791,000 
7,451,000 
8,491,000 

6,708,000 

3,825,000 

756,000 

504,000 
2,262,000 
4,067,000 
5,461,000 
5,315,000 
4,907,000 

306,000 

200,000 

91,000 

$271,000 
199,000 
117  000 

1902 

1897 

1890 

109,000 
135,000 

142,000 

1888 

Atlantic  coast  division: 

1908 

1902-1904 

1889-1891 

38  000 

Pacific  coast  division: 

1908 

53  000 

1904 

1899 

113,000 
165,000 
242,000 
142,000 

28,000 
16  000 

1895 

1892 

1888 

Mississippi  River  division: 

1908 

1899 

1894 

6,600 

In  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  division  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  catch  is  consumed  by  the  canners  and 
packers.  In  1908,  3,269,000  pounds  were  canned, 
342,000  pounds  dried,  and  79,000  pounds  pickled .  On 
the  Pacific  coast,  in  the  flourishing  days  of  the  shrimp 
industry,  the  entire  catch  was  taken  by  Chinese,  and 
large  quantities  of  dried  shrimp  were  exported  to 
China.  The  assiduity  of  the  fishermen  of  this  race  is 
held  responsible  for  the  great  decrease  in  the  Pacific 
coast  product  noted  above. 

The  bulk  of  the  catch  was  made  by  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  except  in  Mississippi,  where  vessel  fisheries 
took  over  80  per  cent  of  the  product.  Seines  took  more 
than  90  per  cent  of  the  catch,  while  9  per  cent  of  the 
total  quantity  was  taken  with  other  nets  and  less 
than  1  per  cent  with  beam  trawls'  and  pots  and  traps. 


SMns. — The  fur  skins  reported  in  connection  with 
the  census  of  fisheries  are  those  of  the  muskrat,  mink, 
and  otter.  Although  the  value  of  such  products  is  not 
large,  compared  with  that  of  most  of  the  distinctively 
fishery  products,  yet  these  industries  give  employ- 
ment to  a  large  number  of  men  and  are  of  considerable 
local  importance.  The  aggregate  value  of  the  skins 
of  these  aquatic  fur  mammals  reported  was  $255,000, 
of  which  muskrats  contributed  $136,000,  or  53  per 
cent;  mink  $89,000,  or  35  per  cent;  and  otter  $30,000, 
or  12  per  cent. 

The  value  of  fur  skins  reported  is  given,  by  states,  in 
the  following  tabular  statement: 


STATE. 

VALUE  OF  FUR  SKINS: 

1908. 

Total. 

Muskrat. 

Mink. 

otter. 

United  States 

J255,000 

S136,000 

16,000 
60,000 
24,000 

»89,000 

130,000 

T.niil.<;iAnf^ 

98,000 
50,000 
24,000 
21,000 
20,000 
15,000 
14,000 
3,600 
2,300 
2,300 
1,500 
1,200 
1,800 

77,000 

4,700 

Maryland 

Florida 

21,000 

Illinois 

14,000 
12,000 
14,000 

6,000 

3,100 

400 

P) 

Ohio 

Georgia 

3,600 

2,300 

1,200 

800 

800 

1,300 

Minnesota 

1,100 
500 
400 
400 

Iowa 

1  Less  than  $100. 

'Includes  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Virginia,  Arkansas,  New  York,  and  Texas. 

The  trapping  of  muskrats  was  reported  in  14  states, 
and  the  number  and  value  of  the  skins  taken  were  as 
follows : 


HUSEBAT 

SKINS:  1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Number. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

457,000 

100 

$136,000 

115,000 
76,000 
119.000 
50,000 
41.000 
29,000 
9,100 
5,000 
11,000 

25 
17 
26 
11 

g 

6 
2 
1 
2 

60,000 
124,000 
10.000 
14.000 
14.000 
12.000 
2,300 
1,200 
2,900 

37 

Delaware 

18 

12 

Illinois 

10 

Ohio 

10 

Missouri 

g 

2 

Minnesota 

1 

All  other  states  2 

2 

'  Includes  $3,800,  the  value  of  110,000  pounds  of  muskrat  meat. 
'IncludesNorth  Carolina,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Michigan,  Virginia,  and  New  York. 

More  than  one-half  of  the  value  reported  repre- 
sented the  product  of  the  contiguous  states  of  Dela- 
ware and  Maryland.  Although  muskrats  are  trapped 
for  the  skins  primarily,  the  meat  also  is  marketed  to  a 
considerable  extent.  The  sale  of  110,000  pounds  of 
muskrat  meat  was  reportedTrom  Delaware,  the  value  of 
which,  $3,800,  has  been  included  in  the  foregoing 
statement. 

While  ten  states  reported  the  trapping  of  mink, 
almost  eight-ninths  of  the  product  was  from  Louisiana, 
as  shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement : 


74 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


STATE. 

UINE  SKINS:  1908. 

Number. 

Value. 

United  States 

45,000 

189,000 

39,000 

3,800 

800 

300 

600 

77,000 

■niinois                               

6,000 

3,100 

1,100 

1,700 

'  Includes  North  Carolina,  Iowa,  Wisconsin,  Ohio,  Texas,  and  Virginia. 

.The  product  of  otter  skins,  by  states,  was  as  follows: 


STATE. 

OTTER  skins:  1908. 

Number. 

Value. 

United  States                     

3,800 

S30,000 

Florida 

2,900 
600 
400 

21,000 

4,700 

3,000 

All  other  states  *                                 

300 

1  Includes  North  Carolina,  .\rkansas,  Missouri,  Virginia,  and  Maryland. 
*  Less  than  100  skins. 

Snappers  (Lutianidx) . — The  red  snapper  {Lutianus 
aya),  which  is  the  most  important  of  the  snappers, 
is  a  large  fish,  bright  red  in  color,  and  is  found  from 
Long  Island  southward,  but  in  greatest  abundance 
along  the  coasts  of  the  Gulf  states.  The  gray  snapper, 
or  mangrove  snapper,  also  knovsTi  in  Florida  as 
"lawyer,"  is  a  common  species.  The  mutton  snapper, 
dog  snapper,  or  jocu,  the  schoolmaster,  or  caji,  the 
silk  snapper,  and  the  lane  snapper  are  all  fishes  of  food 
value  common  in  the  West  Indies  and  southern  Florida. 

The  name  is  locally  applied  to  other  kinds  of  fish. 
The  red  grouper  is  called  "brown  snapper"  and  "red- 
bellied  snapper"  in  Florida.  The  rosefish  is  called 
"snapper"  on  the  North  Atlantic  coast;  the  bluefish 
is  called  "snapper"  and  "blue  snapper"  on  the  New 
England  coast;  and  the  cod  that  live  near  the  shore 
away  from  the  ledges  are  called  "black  snappers." 

The  statistics  of  the  catch  of  snappers  as  reported 
in  1908  are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SNAPPEB  pboddct:  1908. 

BIA«. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

13,854,000 

100 

1651,000 

100 

Florida 

8,061,000 

2,635,000 

2,252,000 

880,000 

14.000 

13,000 

68 

19 

16 

6 

(■) 

449,000 

92,000 

79,000 

30,000 

400 

300 

69 

14 

Texas                              

12 

S 

South  Carolina 

(') 

North  Carolina 

(') 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


The  red-snapper  product  of  Florida,  Alabama,  and 
Texas  contributed  over  98  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  snappers  caught  in  these  states.  The  catch  in 
the  other  states  comprised  13,000  pounds,  valued  at 


$300,  from  North  Carolina,  and  1,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $30,  from  South  Carolina. 

Comparative  statistics  of  the  entire  snapper  product 
for  1908  and  former  years,  so  far  as  data  are  available, 
are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SNAFPER  PRODUCT. 

YEAH.  , 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

13,854,000 

14,105,000 

6,313,000 

3,529,000 

1,483,000 

1651,000 

1902 

430,000 

1897                     

206,000 
103,000 

1888 

1880    

67,000 

The  statistics  for  1902  show  13,764,000  pounds  of 
red  snappers,  valued  at  $418,000,  and  401,000  pounds 
of  all  other  snappers,  valued  at  $11,000.  In  reports 
prior  to  1902  no  division  is  shown,  and  all  snappers 
except  the  red  were  probably  included  imder  the  head 
of  miscellaneous  fish. 

The  chief  fishing  ground  is  ofJ  the  west  coast  of 
Florida.  As  these  fish  habituaUy  feed  along  the 
ground  in  from  10  to  40  fathoms  of  water,  lines  are 
the  only  form  of  apparatus  used  in  their  capture. 

Sponge. — The  sponge  which  is  of  commercial  value 
is  found  off  the  west  coast  of  Florida,  and  the  sta- 
tistics in  regard  thereto  are  given  in  connection  with 
those  for  the  Florida  fisheries  on  pages  103  and  104 
of  tliis  report.  The  value  of  the  sponge  catch  in  1908 
was  $545,000. 

Squeteague. — The  common  weakfish,  or  squeteague 
{Cynoscion  regalis),  is  found  in  abundance  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  It  is  known 
as  "drummer"  about  Cape  Cod;  "yellowfin"  about 
Buzzards  Bay;  "weakfish"  in  New  York  and  New 
Jersey;  "bluefish"  in  Delaware  and  Virginia;  "gray 
trout,"  "sun  trout,"  "shad  trout,"  "sea  trout,"  and 
"salt-water  trout"  in  the  Middle  and  South  Atlantic 
states;  and  "squeteague,"  "squit,"  "chickwit,"  etc., in 
various  places.  It  averages  about  2^  pounds  in  weight, 
but  some  individuals  attain  a  weight  of  30  pounds. 
The  spotted  squeteague  {C.  nebulosus)  is  found  from 
New  Jersey  to  Texas,  and  is  somewhat  larger  than 
the  other  species.  The  CaHfomia  "bluefish"  (C. 
parvipinnis)  and  the  great  "white  sea  bass"  of  Cali- 
fornia (0.  nobilis)  are  other  species  of  weakfish. 

In  1908  squeteague  were  taken  in  all  the  Atlantic 
coast  states  south  of  Massachusetts,  in  all  the  Gulf 
states,  and  in  California  on  the  Pacific  coast;  but 
almost  one-third  of  the  catch  was  made  off  the  New 
Jersey  shores  and  along  Delaware  Bay.  The  entire 
product  amounted  to  49,869,000  pounds,  and  was 
valued  at  $1,776,000.  Squeteague  ranked  seventh  in 
value  among  all  fishery  products.  Nearly  the  entire 
amount  was  sold  fresh,  the  small  quantities  salted  in 
North  Carolina  and  Florida  amounting  to  less  than  1 
per  cent  of  the  total  product.     The  following  tabular 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


75 


statement  shows  the  statistics  of  the  catch,  by  states 
ranked  according  to  the  value  of  their  product: 


SQUETEAOUE  PBODHCT:   1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

49,869,000 

100 

11,776,000 

100 

New  York 

11,151,000 

11,814,000 

4,635,000 

4,864,000 

4,491,000 

1,103,000 

2,427,000 

1,971,000 

1,191,000 

1,056,0(» 

1,337,000 

2,590,000 

617,000 

140,000 

208,000 

183,000 

180,000 

12,000 

22 

24 

9 

10 

9 

2 

5 

4 

2 

2 

3 

5 

1 

(|) 

0) 

(') 

451,000 

342,000 

206,000 

196,000 

139,000 

82,000 

72.000 

58,000 

47,000 

46,000 

42,000 

29,000 

28,000 

12,000 

10,000 

8,700 

6,800 

200 

25 

19 

Nortii  Carolina 

12 

Florida 

11 

Virelnia 

8 

5 

4 

3 

Maryland    

3 

3 

2 

2 

2 

1 

A  labama         

1 

South  Carolina     .          

(1) 

Connecticut 

n\ 

1  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Comparative  figures  for  those  years  for  which  sta- 
tistics are  available  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement : 


YEAE. 

SQtJETEAGUE 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                                              

49,869,000 
43,610.000 
31.971,000 
13,044,000 

11,776,000 

1902-1904       

1,242,000 

1895-1898                            

733,000 

1888-89 

438,000 

Both  the  quantity  and  the  value  have  increased  since 
1888-89,  but  except  during  the  period  from  1888-89  to 
1895-1898  the  rate  of  increase  has  been  greater  for  the 
value  than  for  the  quantity. 

Squeteague  fishing  begins  in  the  latter  part  of  April 
and  lasts  from  six  to  eight  weeks,  until  the  schools 
begin  to  move  off  into  deeper  and  cooler  waters. 
Nearly  one-half  of  the  entire  catch  in  1908  was  made 
in  pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs,  and  one-third  in 
seines.  The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  sta- 
tistics of  the  catch,  by  apparatus  of  capture,  for  1908: 


SQtmTEAGCE  PBODnCT:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPAKATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Total 

49,869,000 

100 

Jl,  776, 000 

100 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 

Seines 

24,135,000 

16,573,000 

6,006,000 

2,038,000 

1,115,000 

48 

33 

12 

4 

2 

807,000 

5S1.000 

249,000 

94,000 

45,000 

45 
33 

Gill  nets 

14 

Lines 

5 

All  other  kinds 

3 

Sturgeons  (Acipenseridx) . — Sturgeons  are  found  on 
the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  and  in  many  inland 
waters.  The  various  species  are  known  as  "lake  stur- 
geon," "white  sturgeon,"  "shovelnose,"  etc.  The 
Atlantic  sturgeon  attains  a  length  of  from  5  to  12 
feet  and  a  weight  of  from  400  to  500  pounds.  They 
are  sold  fresh,  pickled,  and  smoked,  for  food;  caviar 
is  manufactured  from  their  eggs;  the  skin  is  made 
into  leather;  and  the  sounds  are  used  in  the  manu- 
facture of  glue  and  isinglass.  A  valuable  oil  is  some- 
times obtained  from  the  parts  not  used  for  food,  and 
the  refuse  is  used  for  fertihzing  purposes. 

These  fishes  were  taken  in  31  states  and  with  the  pos- 
sible exception  of  catfish  and  carp  were  the  most  widely 
distributed  fishes  reported.  The  aggregate  catch  was 
2,072,000  pounds,  valued  at  $157,000.  To  these  fig- 
ures should  be  added  those  for  the  sturgeon  caviar 
product  which  was  reported  separately  and  has  been 
included  in  the  statistics  of  caviar.  The  sturgeon 
caviar  product  was,  in  many  cases,  reported  in  con- 
junction with  paddlefish  eggs  or  caviar.  For  this 
reason  the  sturgeon  caviar  can  not,  in  all  cases,  be  seg- 
regated from  that  of  the  paddlefish.  The  paddlefish 
{Polyodon  spathula),  locally  known  as  "spoonbill," 
"duckbill  cat,"  and  "shovelfish,"  is  found  in  all  the 
larger  streams  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is  a  poor 
food  fish,  although  the  roe  is  used  extensively  for 
caviar.  The  production  of  sturgeon  and  paddlefish 
caviar  was  79,000  pounds,  valued  at  $79,000,  of  which 
69,000  pounds,  valued  at  $70,000,  was  from  states  re- 
porting a  catch  of  sturgeon  and  comprised,  in  the 
main,  sturgeon  caviar.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  statistics  of  the  sturgeon  catch  by  states 
and  of  the  caviar  product  for  the  same  states,  which 
are  ranked  according  to  the  combined  value  of  these 
products: 


United  States. 


Virginia 

New  Jersey 

New  York 

Iowa 

Maryland 

Minnesota 

Wisconsin 

Michigan 

Illinois 

Indiana 

Delaware 

Georgia 

Oregon 

North  Carolina. . 

Washington 

Florida 

Missouri 

Pennsylvania 

Kentucky 

Maine 

All  other  states'. 


STURGEON  AND  CAVIAB  PBODXTCT:  1908. 


Total 
value. 


1228,000 


49,000 

23,000 

23,000 

16,000 

16,000 

11,000 

8,800 

8,000 

7,300 

7,200 

7,100 

7,000 

6,800 

6,400 

6,000 

5,300 

5,100 

4,300 

2,400 

1,200 

5,500 


sturgeon. 


Quantlt: 


'^. 


2,072,000 


183,000 
132.000 
105,000 
215,000 

37,000 
164,000 
112,000 

57,000 
178,000 

62,000 

31,000 
100,000 
114,000 

62,0Q0 
185,000 

62,000 
132,000 

16,000 

60,000 
8,200 

67,000 


Value. 


$157,000 


22,000 
13,000 
16,000 
11,000 
6,000 
11,000 
8,200 
7,100 
6,500 
6,800 
3,200 
7,000 
6,800 
6,400 
6,000 
5,000 
6,000 
3,700 
2,400 
1,000 
3,800 


Sturgeon  caviar.' 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


69,000 


22,000 

9,700 

8,100 

8,600 

8,100 

100 

900 

1,200 

1,300 

300 

3,100 


200 
300 
600 


100 
4,300 


Value. 


170,000 


27,000 

10,000 

7,500 

6,300 

11,000 

100 

600 

900 

'800 

400 

3,900 


200 
100 
600 


100 
1,700 


•  A  small  quantity  of  caviar  from  species  other  than  sturgeon  may  be  included. 

*  Includes  California,  Neiiraska,  Ohio,  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Connecticut,  Ka 

Massachusetts,  South  Dakota,  Tennessee,  and  West  Virginia. 


76 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  following  tabular  statement,  giving  the  distri- 
bution of  the  sturgeon  catch  by  geographic  divisions, 
shows  that  in  quantity  the  product  of  the  fisheries  of 
the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries  ranked  first  in 
1908,  while  the  catch  of  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries, 
more  particularly  that  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states, 
was  of  the  greatest  value. 


STtlKOEON  peoduct:  1908. 

Dm.SION  AND  STATE  QKODP. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds, 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

2,072,000 

100 

$157,000 

100 

Atlantic  coast  division 

649,000 

31 

69,000 

44 

Middle  Atlantic  states 

418,000 

217,000 

14,000 

845,000 

262,000 

309,000 

7,200 

20 
10 

1 

41 
13 

15 

1 

49.000 
18,000 
1,500 

39,000 

36,000 

13,000 

700 

31 

11 

New  Kngiand  states 

1 

Mississippi  River  division 

24 

Great  Lalies  division 

23 

9 

Gulf  of  Mexico  division . . 

1 

Returns  are  not  available  for  the  country  as  a  whole 
for  a  series  of  years,  but  figures  for  the  various  geo- 
graphic divisions  and  groups  of  states  are  as  follows : 


OTUBOEON  PEODUCT. 

STATE  QBOUP  OE  DHTSION  AND  TEAB. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

New  England  states: 

1908 

14,000 
21,000 
18,000 
21,000 
4,500 

418,000 

677,000 

2,308,000 

2,636,000 

217,000 
218,000 
930,000 
488,000 

7,200 
467,600 
32,000 

262,000 

619,000 

1,082,000 

1,427,000 

2,799,000 

845,000 

946,000 

2,260,000 

309,000 

138,000 

295,000 

3,140,000 

3,776,000 

»1,500 

1,600 

1,300 

800 

200 

49,000 
42,000 
84,000 
66,000 

18,000 
11,000 
25,000 
10,000 

700 

14,000 

1,300 

36,000 
40,000 
51,000 
50.000 
106,000 

39,000 
27,000 
03,000 

13,000 
4,300 
15,000 
80,000 
66,000 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1888 

Middle  Atlantic  states: 

1908 

1904 

1897 

1891 

Soutti  Atlantic  states: 

1908 

1902 

1897 

1890 

Gulf  of  Mexico  division: 

1908 

1902 

1897 

Great  Lalies  division: 

1908 

1903 

1899 

1893 

1889 

Mississippi  River  division: 

1908 

1899 

1894 

Pacific  coast  division: 

1908 

1904 

1899 

•  1895 

1892 

The  following  tabular  statement,  which  shows  the 
distribution  of  the  catch  by  apparatus  of  capture, 
indicates  that  various  appliances  were  used  in  taking 
the  product : 


STtXRGEON  product:   1908. 

KIND  OF  APPAEATUS. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

2,072,000 

100 

J157,000 

100 

Gillnets 

775,000 
344,000 
327,000 
187,000 
336,000 
103,000 

37 
17 
16 

9 
16 

5 

69,000 
32,000 
18,000 
17,000 
16,000 
4,600 

44 
20 
11 
11 
10 
3 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs . 

Lines 

Trammel  nets 

All  other 

Whale  products. — The  value  of  the  whale  products 
reported  amounted  to  $497,000.  These  products 
consisted  of  63,000  pounds  of  whalebone,  valued  at 
$215,000,  and  529,000  gallons  of  oil,  valued  at  $282,000. 
Of  the  latter,  452,000  gallons,  valued  at  $252,000,  was 
sperm  oil,  and  76,000  gallons,  valued  at  $.30,000,  whale 
oil.  In  1908  the  entire  amount  from  the  Pacific  coast 
was  reported  from  the  whaling  fleet  sailing  from  San 
Francisco,  although  in  years  past  a  small  amount  of 
whale  products  has  been  reported  from  Washington. 
The  home  port  of  the  Atlantic  whaling  fleet,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  vessels  from  Provincetown,  is  New 
Bedford,  Mass.  In  1908  nine  whales  were  stranded  on 
Ponce  Park  Beach,  Fla.,  from  which  the  oil  was  ex- 
tracted; one  was  caught  ofl'  Cape  Lookout,  N.  C;  and 
a  number  were  taken  by  two  vessels  sailing  from 
Connecticut  ports. 

In  the  following  tabular  statement,  which  shows 
the  quantity  and  value  of  whale  products  in  1908,  the 
figures  for  Florida,  North  Carolina,  and  Connecticut 
are  combined  under  the  head  ".Ail  other  states:" 


WHALE  products:  1908. 

Total 
value. 

Whalebone. 

Whale  oil. 

DIVISION  AND 
STATE. 

Quan- 
tity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quan- 
tity 
(gal- 
lons). 

Value. 

Amount. 

Per 

cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amotmt. 

Per 

cent 
distri- 
bution. 

United  States. . 

$497,000 

63,000 

$215,000. 

100 

529,000 

$282,000 

100 

Atlantic  coa^t  divi- 

365,000 
33fi.ono 

30,000 
132,000 

31,000 

30.000 

1,900 

32,000 

97,000 

89,000 

7,600 

119,000 

45 
41 
4 

55 

504.000 
4(i2.0OO 
42,000 

24,000 

209,000 
247,000 
22,000 

13,000 

Mas.sachusetts . 

A 11  other  states 

Pacific  coast  divi- 

88 
8 

No  statistics  are  available  for  the  country  as  a  whole 
between  1888  and  1908,  but  by  combining  the  Pacific 
coast  statistics  for  1899  with  those  of  the  New  England 
states  for  1898,  and  making  a  similar  combination  for 
1904  and  1905,  comparative  data  are  secured  sufficient 
to  indicate  the  general  trend  of  the  whaling  industry. 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  FISHERIES  IN  DETAIL. 


77 


The  following  statement  giving  the  value  of  the  whale 
products  for  specified  years  shows  that  there  has  been 
a  gradual  decline: 

1908 1497,000 

1904-5 873,000 

1898-99 722,000 

1889 1,404,000 

1888 1,065,000 

1880 2,324,000 

For  the  Pacific  coast  states  the  period  from  1890- 
1892  was  the  high-water  mark  of  the  whale  fisheries. 
The  statistics  for  the  Pacific  whaUng  fleet  for  certain 
years  from  1880  to  1908  are  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


WHALE  PEODUCT3  TAKEN  BT  PAOFIC  FLEET. 

YEAR. 

Total 
value. 

Whalebone. 

Whale  oil. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(gallons). 

Value. 

1908 

$132,000 
434,000 
457,000 
307.000 

32,000 

95,000 
207,000 

99,000 
197,000 
224,000 
170,000 
120,000 
197, QOO 

(■) 

$119,000 
415,000 
436,000 
287,000 
937,000 
1,119,000 
680,000 
520,000 
586,000 
(") 

24,000 
43,000 
70,000 
73,000 
210,000 
235, 000 
298,000 
201,000 
292,000 
(') 

$13,000 
18  000 

1904       .                     -.   . 

1899 

20,000 
20  000 

1895 

1892 

999,000 
1,190,000 
786,000 
582,000 
691,000 
202,000 

62,000 

1891 

71  000 

1890 

105,000 

1889 

62,000 
105,000 

1888 

1880 

1  Not  reported.  '  Not  reported  separately. 

The    comparative   statistics    of   the    catch    of   the 
Atlantic  fleet  are  as  follows: 


WHALE  PRODUCTS  TAKEN  BY  ATLANTIC  FLEET. 

TEAR. 

Total 
value. 

Whalebone. 

Whale  oil. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(gallons). 

Value. 

1908 

$.365,000 
440,000 
383,000 
265,000 
821,000 
680,000 
1,034,000 
2,122,000 

31,000 
56,000 
19,000 
27,000 
98,000 
125,000 
223,000 
(') 

$97,000 
193,000 
90,000 
66,000 
320,000 
341,000 
569,000 

5(M,000 
524,000 
685,000 
416,000 
864,000 
646,000 
930,000 
(') 

$269,000 
247,000 
293,000 
199  000 

1905             .              

1902 

1898                           ...   . 

1889 

501,000 

1888     .              

339  000 

1887 

465,000 

1880       

(») 

I  Not  reported. 


2  Not  reported  separately. 


The  average  value  per  gallon  of  the  product  of  whale 
oil  in  1908,  on  both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts,  was 
the  highest  reported  at  any  time.  Sperm  oil  con- 
tributed the  greater  portion  of  the  value  reported  for 
whale  oil,  and  in  1908  was  valued  at  50  per  cent  more 
a  gallon  than  other  kinds  of  whale  oil.  It  is  derived 
exclusively  from  the  sperm  whale  and  is  used  chiefly 
as  a  lubricator.  In  previous  reports  sperm  oil  was  not 
segregated  from  other  kinds  of  whale  oil. 

Whalebone,  or  baleen,  is  chiefly  used  by  whip  mak- 
ers, dressmakers,  and  corset  manufacturers.  It  varies 
in  color  and  fineness  and  is  received  from  the  vessels 
in  lengths  varying  from  1  to  15  feet. 

Ambergris,  another  product  of  the  whale,  while  very 
valuable  in  the  preparation  of  fine  perfumery,  is  a  very 
uncertain  product.  It  is  sometimes  found  floating 
out  at  sea  and  sometimes  along  the  shore.     None  was 


reported  in  1908.  In  1905,  94  pounds,  valued  at 
$17,000,  were  reported  from  Massachusetts,  and  in 
1889,  37  pounds,  valued  at  $7,750.  In  1878  a  vessel 
of  New  Bedford  reported  136  pounds  that  sold  for 
$23,000,  and  in  1858  another  New  Bedford  vessel 
secured  600  pounds  of  ambergris,  valued  at  $10,500. 
The  total  quantity  reported  by  the  American  whaling 
fleet  from  1836  to  1880  was  1,668  pounds. 

Whitefish  {Coregonus). — ^Whitefishes  are  among  the 
most  important  fresh-water  fishes  of  America.  The 
common  whitefish  ( C.  clujyeaformis)  is  the  most  valuable 
species  of  all,  although  the  others  are  highly  esteemed 
as  food.  It  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes  region  and  is 
known  as  "humpback,"  "bowback, "  and  "highback" 
whitefish;  it  is  known  also  as  "Otsego  bass"  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Otsego  Lake,  N.  Y.  Other  species  of 
economic  importance  are  the  Rocky  Mountain  white- 
fish  (G.  williamsoni)  and  the  Menominee  whitefish  (C. 
quadnlateralis) ,  also  known  locally  as  "round  white- 
fish,"  "frostfish,"  "shadwaiter,"  "  pilot  fish,"  "chivey," 
"blackback,"  etc.  Coregonus  albus  is  the  common 
whitefish  of  Lake  Erie. 

There  are  included  under  this  name  the  bluefin 
(LeucicMhys  nigripinnis)  and  the  longjaw  (L.  prog- 
nathus),  commercially  classed  with  the  whitefishes, 
although  they  belong  to  the  same  genus  as  the  lake 
herring. 

The  name  is  locally  appUed  to  the  bluefish  on  the 
Hudson;  to  the  menhaden  in  western  Connecticut;  to 
the  tilefish  in  California ;  and  to  the  beluga  by  whalers. 

The  whitefish  catch  is  confined  to  the  Great  Lakes, 
Lake  of  the  Woods,  and  Rainy  Lake.  In  value  it 
ranked  fourth  among  the  fishery  products  in  those 
waters  with  a  catch  in  1908  valued  at  $524,000,  which 
is  less  than  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  United 
States  fisher}'  product,  but  14  per  cent  of  the  value  of 
the  product  of  the  Great  Lakes.  Every  state  border- 
ing on  the  Great  Lakes  shared  in  the  catch  of  white- 
fish,  but  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  total  value  was  con- 
tributed by  the  fish  reported  from  Michigan.  In  that 
state  whitefish  ranked  second  in  value,  representing 
23  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 

The  distribution  of  the  catch,  by  states  ranked 
according  to  the  value  of  their  product,  is  given  in  the 
following  tabular  statement: 


WHTTEFISH  PRODUCT:   1908. 

STATE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

United  States 

7,722,000 

100 

$524,000 

100 

Michigan 

4,772,000 

732,000 

1,274,000 

455,000 

179,000 

212,000 

52,000 

14,000 

62 
9 

17 
6 
2 
3 
1 
(') 

339,000 
60,000 
66.000 
37,000 
15,000 
11,000 
5,000 
800 

65 

Ohio  . 

jl 

Wisconsin 

It 

PpTirisylvf^nji^ 

7 

New  York 

3 

2 

Indiana 

1 

Illinois 

C) 

>  Loss  than  1  per  cent. 


78 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


In  addition  to  the  whitefish  product  included  in  the 
above  statement,  there  were  reported  2,300  pounds  of 
caviar  prepared  from  whitefish  roe,  valued  at  $200, 
which  are  included  in  the  statistics  for  caviar. 

The  distribution  of  the  catch  by  fishing  grounds  was 
as  follows: 


wniTEnsH  pbodcct:  1908. 

nSHINQ  GBOUND. 

Quantity. 

V^luo. 

Pounds. 

Percent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

7,722,000 

100 

$524,000 

100 

l>ake  Michigan 

3,553,000 
1,504,000 
1,469,000 
1,140,000 
56,000 

46 
19 
19 
15 
1 

241,000 

122,000 

91,000 

65,000 

5,400 

46 

Lake  Erie , 

23 

Lake  Huron  ' 

17 

12 

I^ke  Ontario 

1 

'  Includes  Lake  St.  Clair. 

Nearly  all  the  whitefish  product  was  marketed  fresh, 
but  342,000  pounds,  valued  at  $17,000,  were  reported 
salted  and  15,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,300,  were 
smoked.  The  combined  value  of  the  salted  and 
smoked  product  formed  only  3  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  catch. 

Although  in  some  cases  the  returns  specified  the 
allied  varieties  as  Menominee,  longjaw,  etc.,  in  the 
majority  of  cases  the  catch  was  reported  as  whitefish 
without  segregation,  and  hence,  the  returns  can  not 
be  depended  upon  as  showing  the  entire  catch  of 
specific  varieties.  For  5,680,000  pounds  of  whitefish, 
valued  at  $447,000,  or  85  per  cent  of  the  total  value, 
the  variety  was  specified. 

The  catches  of  the  longjaw,  bluefin,  and  Menominee 
whitefishes  reported  separately  (chiefly  from  Michigan 
and  Wisconsin,  with  small  quantities  from  Minnesota 
and  Illinois),  were  as  follows: 


WHITEnsH  product:  1908. 

STATE. 

Longjaw. 

Bluefin. 

Menominee. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States 

1,028,000 

S39,000 

712,000 

$29,000 

302,000 

$9,600 

lUinoU 

1,100 
870,000 
35,000 
121,000 

(') 
36,000 
700 
2,300 

200 

(') 

300 

149,000 

1,000 

151,000 

(') 

6,200 

100 

3,400 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

•     1,400 
710,000 

(>) 
29,000 

1  Less  than  $100. 

The  3deld  of  whitefish  in  1908  shows  a  continuation 
of  the  recovery  shown  in  1903  from  the  downward 
movement  which  had  culminated  in  1899,  yet  the 
catch  was  little  more  than  one-third  as  heavy  as  in 
1880.  The  statistics  for  those  years  for  which  fig- 
ures are  available  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


"WHITEFISH  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

190S 

7,722,000 
7,520,000 
6,682,952 
10,327,000 
15,326,000 
18,344,000 
21,464,000 

$524  000 

1903 

338,000 
3.39,000 
394,000 
692,000 
0) 

1899 

1893 

1889 ... 

1885 

1880 

(') 

1  Not  reported. 

Gill  nets,  pound  nets,  and  trap  nets  took  nearly  all 
of  the  catch.  The  proportion  of  the  total  value 
credited  to  gill  nets  was  60  per  cent  and  that  credited 
to  pound  and  trap  nets  39  per  cent;  while  fyke  and 
hoop  nets,  seines,  and  lines  took  less  than  1  per  cent  of 
the  total. 


CHAPTER  YIl. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


ALABAMA. 

The  state  of  Alabama  has  the  shortest  coast  Hne  of 
any  of  the  states  bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
its  fishing  interests,  whether  measured  by  the  number 
of  fishermen,  capital  invested,  or  products,  are  the 
least  of  any  of  the  Gulf  states.  Among  the  states 
engaged  in  fishing  in  1908,  Alabama  ranked  twenty- 
fourth  in  the  value  of  all  products,  second  in  the  red 
snapper  fisheries,  and  sixteenth  in  the  oyster  industry. 
The  oyster  industry  was  by  far  the  most  important 
fishing  industry  of  the  state  and  contributed  nearly 
45  per  cent  to  the  total  value  of  all  fishery  products 
in  1908.  The  other  fisheries  with  products  exceeding 
$10,000  in  value  for  the  year  were,  in  the  order  of 
value  of  products,  the  red  snapper,  mullet,  catfish, 
buffalo  fish,  squeteague,  and  fresh-water  drum  fisheries. 
The  chief  fishing  grounds  are  Mobile  Bay,  Mississippi 
Sound,  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico ;  commercial  fishing  is 
also  conducted  in  the  Mobile,  Alabama,  and  Tombigbee 
Rivers.  All  of  the  foregoing  together  constitute  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  district.  The  only  other  fisliing  ground 
of  the  state  is  the  Tennessee  River. 

The  following  statement  shows  the  principal  items 
of  the  Alabama  fisheries  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 972 

Capital : 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $164, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 23, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 82, 000 

Value  of  products 387, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  rapid 
growth  of  this  industry  in  Alabama  during  the  past 
20  years  is  shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed,; 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PBODUCTS. 

TKAB. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 
boats,  in- 
cluding 

outflt. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

969 
714 
693 
496 

$187,000 
136,000 
73,000 
68,000 

$164,000 

127,000 

64,000 

47,000 

$23,000 
8,200 
9,200 
12,000 

10,665,000 
9,361,000 
4,699.000 
4,560,000 

$387,000 

1902 

267,000 

1897 

134,000 

1889 

147,000 

The  increase  has  been  continuous  except  in  the  cases 
of  the  value  of  the  product  from  1889  to  1897  and 
the  investment  in  apparatus  from  1889  to  1902.  The 
gain  in  the  latter  from  1902  to  1908  was  due  largely  to 
the  increased  use  of  trammel  nets. 


Persons  employed. — The  distribution  of  the  persons 
employed  in  1908  is  given  below: 


PEBSONs  employed:  1908. 

Niunber. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTKICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ploy- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total, 

Sala- 
ries, 

Wages. 

Total 

972 

f747 

4 

221 

$100,000 

$5,200 

2  $95,000 

Gulf  of  Mexico  dis- 
trict  

895 
234 

11 

647 
3 

77 

670 
41 

4 

625 

4 
4 

221 
189 

7 

22 
3 

100,000 
86,000 

3,000 

8,800 
2,300 

6,200 
5,200 

95.000 

Vessel  fisheries.. 
T  r  a  n  sporting 

vessels 

Shore  and  boat 

fisheries 

Shoresmen 

81,000 

3,000 

8,800 
2,300 

Tennessee  Riverdis- 
trlct    (shore   and 

77 

1  Exclusive  of  seven  proprietors  not  fishing. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $21,000. 

Nearly  all  of  the  fishermen  were  employed  in  the  Gulf 
district,  only  77  fishing  on  the  Tennessee  River.  It  will 
be  noted  that  all  of  the  latter  were  independent  fisher- 
men. Nearly  all  of  the  fishermen  engaged  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  were  also  inde- 
pendent fishermen,  only  22  wage-earners  being  em- 
ployed by  the  625  proprietors  and  independent  fisher- 
men of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  that  district. 
At  least  600  of  the  persons  employed  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  and  at  least  677,  or 
nearly  70  per  cent,  of  the  972  persons  employed  in  the 
fishing  industry  of  the  state  must  have  been  independ- 
ent fishermen. 

Of  the  persons  employed  in  the  Gulf  district,  more 
than  72  per  cent  were  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
In  1908  the  number  of  persons  employed  in  vessel 
fisheries  was  234,  and  on  transporting  vessels  11,  as 
compared  with  254  and  19,  respectively,  in  1902.  The 
number  of  men  engaged  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries 
of  the  Gulf  and  its  immediate  tributaries  was  647  in 
1908,  compared  with  441  in  1902.  There  has  thus  been 
a  small  decrease  in  the  number  of  men  employed  in 
the  vessel  fisheries  and  a  large  increase  in  the  number 
employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  tabular  statement 
following  gives  statistics  of  the  fishing  equipment  com- 
prised in  vessels,  boats,  and  apparatus  of  capture,  and 
of  other  capital, 

(79) 


80 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


VALUE  OF  EQmPMENT  AND 

OTHER  capital:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Tennes- 
see River 
district. 

Total 

1269,000 

1262,000 

S6,900 

130,000 
124,000 
94,000 
30,000 

5,800 

5,000 

800 

34,000 

7,000 
17,000 
10,000 
23,000 

4,300 
19,000 
65,000 
17,000 

130.000 
124,000 
94,000 
30,000 

5,800 

5,000 

800 

33,000 

7,000 
17,000 

8,600 
19,000 

4,300 
15,000 
63,000 
17,000 

Fisiiing  (sail)          . .           .      ...           

Outfit                 .                

Vessels 

Outfit 

Boats 

1,400 

Sail 

Row 

1,400 

Apparatus  of  capture. .               

3,800 

Sliore  and  boat  fislieries 

3,800 

Shore  and  accessory  property . 

1,700 

Cash 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  the  number  and 
tonnage  of  the  vessels  and  the  number  of  the  boats 
used  in  the  fisheries  of  Alabama  in  1908  are  shown: 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:   1908. 

CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Tennes- 
see River 
district. 

61 

57 
900 

4 
35 
670 
16 
115 
539 

61 

67 
900 

4 
35 
581 
10 
115 
450 

Fishing  (sail): 

Tonnage .  .  . 

Transporting  (sail): 

89 

Sail 

Row 

89 

The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  used, 
was  as  follows: 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 

KIND., 

Total. 

Distributed  by  dis- 
tricts. 

Distribution  by 
class  of  fisheries. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Tennes- 
see River 
district. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

891 

1 

57 

9 

200 

30 

27 

235 

1 

57 

9 

200 

30 

656 

891 

Gill  nets 

1 
22 

6 
35 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

35 

Seines 

3 

165 

Turtle  nets 

30 

27 

27 

All  of  the  saU  craft  and  motor  boats  were  employed 
in  the  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  coast,  rowboats  alone  being 
reported  for  the  Tennessee  River.  The  apparatus 
used  in  the  Tennessee  River  fisheries  was  confined  to 
fyke  and  hoop  nets,  wooden  traps,  and  lines. 

The  total  investment  in  fishing  and  transporting 
vessels  and  their  outfit  was  $130,000,  while  the  invest- 
ment in  boats  aggregated  $34,000,  of  which  all  but 
$1,400  pertained  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  district .  The  number  of  vessels  reported 
as  engaged  in  fishing  and  transporting  had  decreased 


by  16  since  1902,  but  their  value,  including  the  value 
of  the  outfit,  increased  by  $14,000.  The  number  of 
boats  used  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  coast  and  the 
rivers  immediately  tributary  to  the  Gulf  increased  by 
264,  and  their  value  increased  by  $21,000. 

The  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  for  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  largely  ex- 
ceeded that  for  the  vessel  fisheries,  but  the  combined 
investment  in  fioating  craft  and  apparatus  of  capture 
by  the  vessel  fisheries  was  $134,000,  while  for  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  it  was  only 
$47,000.  Wooden  traps  were  reported  as  in  use  only 
in  the  fisheries  of  the  Tennessee  River,  which  also  show 
the  majority  of  fyke  and  hoop  nets.  The  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  employed  the  largest 
number  of  trammel  nets.  The  value  of  fishing  appa- 
ratus on  vessels  and  boats  fishing  in  the  Gulf  and  its 
immediate  tributaries  was  reported  as  $8,200  in  1902. 

In  the  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  62  per  cent  of  the 
capital  was  invested  in  floating  craft  and  7  per  cent  in 
apparatus  of  capture,  while  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Ten- 
nessee River  only  20  per  cent  was  invested  in  floating 
craft  and  55  per  cent  in  apparatus  of  capture. 

Products,  hy  species. — ^The  fishery  products  of  the 
state  were  distributed  by  species  and  apparatus  of 
capture  as  shown  in  the  table  on  page  82.  Oysters 
easily  ranked  first,  with  nearly  45  per  cent  of  the  total 
value.  Red  snapper,  mullet,  catfish,  and  buffalo  fish 
followed  in  the  order  named. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — The  following  tabular 
statement  shows  the  distribution  of  the  chief  species  by 
fishing  grounds : 


VALUE  OF  PRODUCTS:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico, 
district. 

Tennes- 
(see  River 

district. 

Total 

$387,000 

$358,000 

$29,000 

Fish 

206,000 

92,000 

33,000 

17,000 

11.000 

10,000 

10,000 

5,500 

4,600 

23,000 

173,000 

7,300 

600 

177,000 
92,000 
33,000 
9,000 
7,000 
10,000 
1,400 
6,600 

29,000 

Mullet 

Catfish 

7,200 

Buffalo  fish 

3,200 

8,800 

4,600 

All  others 

18.000 

173,000 

7,300 

600 

5,000 

The  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  districi 

J  are  cr( 

edited  \ 

vith  93 

per  cent  of  the  total  catch.  In  that  district  the  value 
of  the  products  was  nearly  evenly  divided  between  fish 
and  oysters,  while  in  the  Tennessee  River  district  fish 
constituted  the  entire  product.  The  principal  species 
taken  in  the  Gulf  district  were,  in  the  order  of  value, 
oysters,  red  snapper,  mullet,  and  squeteague.  The 
first  two  named  formed  74  per  cent  of  the  total  catch 
of  the  Gulf  district.  The  chief  species  caught  in  the 
Tennessee  River,  in  the  order  of  value,  were  fresh- 
water drum,  catfish,  suckers,  and  buffalo  fish. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


81 


Products,  by  class  of  jislieries. — The  distribution  of 
products  between  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  is  shown  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


Total 

Fish 

Red  snapper 

Mullet 

Catfish 

Bullalofish 

Squeteague 

Drum,  fresh-water. 

Channel  bass 

Suckers 

Another 

Oysters 

Crabs  and  shrimp 

Terrapin  and  turtles. . 


VALUE  OF  PKODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


$387,000 


208,000 
92,000 
33,000 
17,000 
11,000 
10,000 
10,000 
5,500 

4,eoo 

23,000 

173,000 

7,300 

eoo 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$144,000 


109,000 

92,000 

4,200 

200 


2,700 

"\,m 


8,000 

33,000 

1,200 

100 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$244,000 


97,000 


29,000 
17,000 
11,000 

7,600 
10,000 

3,700 

4,600 

15,000 

140,000 

6,100 
600 


The  fish  products  proper  amounted  in  the  aggregate 
to  6,232,000  pounds,  or  58  per  cent  of  the  total  weight 
of  fishery  products,  and  were  valued  at  $206,000,  or 
53  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  The  value  of  the  fish 
products  constituted  40  per  cent  of  the  total  in  the 
case  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  76  per  cent 
in  the  case  of  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  products  of 
the  vessel  fisheries  were  chiefly  red  snapper  and 
oysters,  all  other  products  amounting  to  only  13  per 
cent. 

The  combined  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisher- 
ies aggregated  6,312,000  pounds,  having  a  value  of 
$244,000.  Of  this  catch,  93  per  cent  in  quantity  and 
88  per  cent  in  value  was  from  the  Gulf  district. 

Of  the  products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  for 
the  state,  the  oyster  catch  formed  57  per  cent  in 
value. 

Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  product 
caught  by  means  of  tongs,  representing  the  oyster 
catch,  contributed  a  larger  percentage  of  the  total 
products,  as  measiu-ed  by  value,  than  the  product 
caught  by  any  other  class  of  apparatus,  and  formed 
nearly  tv/o-thirds  of  the  shore  and  boat  products  of 
the  Gulf  district ;  while  the  catch  of  lines  contributed 
more  than  two-thirds  of  the  total  for  the  vessel 
fisheries,  and  that  of  fyke  nets  nearly  one-half  of  the 
total  for  the  Tennessee  River.  Seines  were  used  to  a 
comparatively  small  extent,  and  gill  nets  still  less 
and  only  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  catch  in  wooden 
traps,  all  in  the  Tennessee  River,  was  a  substantial  one, 
aggregating  107,000  pounds.  The  following  tabular 
statement  shows  the  value  and  distribution  of  the 
catch,  by  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus : 
76786°— 11 6 


KIND  OK  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Tongs 

Lines 

Trammel  nets... 

Fylie  nets 

\\  ooden  traps . . . 

Seines 

Gill  nets 

Spears,  etc 

Minor  apparatus 


VALUE  O?  PEODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


$387,000 


173,000 

120,000 

68,000 

24,000 

6,100 

4,400 

1,200 

700 

600 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$144,000 


33,000 
97,000 
9,300 


2,900 

1,200 

500 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$244,000 


140,000 
23,000 
49,000 
24,000 
6,100 
1,500 


300 
600 


Oysters. — The  product  of  the  oyster  fishery  was 
590,000  bushels,  valued  at  $173,000,  which  was  45  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  all  products.  The  oyster 
catch  included  54,000  bushels  of  seed  oysters,  having 
a  value  of  $4,100,  and  536,000  bushels  of  market  oys- 
ters, having  a  value  of  $169,000.  All  of  the  seed 
oysters  were  from  public  areas,  and  of  the  market 
oysters  12  per  cent  were  from  private  areas  and  88  per 
cent  from  public  areas.  The  value  of  the  oysters  from 
private  areas  formed  22  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
market  oysters  and  their  average  value  was  59  cents 
per  bushel,  compared  with  28  cents  per  bushel  for 
oysters  from  public  areas.  The  oyster  product  of  1908 
shows  a  large  increase  over  the  figures  for  1902,  in 
which  year  the  total  product  reported  amounted  to 
347,000  bushels,  valued  at  $120,000.  The  increase  in 
quantity  of  oysters,  exclusive  of  seed  oysters,  was 
189,000  bushels,  or  54  per  cent,  and  the  increase  in 
value  $49,000,  or  41  per  cent.  The  gain  was  confined 
almost  entirely  to  the  product  from  the  pubhc  areas, 
the  product  from  the  private  areas  increasing  only  17 
per  cent  in  quantity  and  decreasing  5  per  cent  in  value. 
Oysters  can  be  taken  from  the  public  reefs  at  any  time, 
the  demand  alone  governing  the  fishermen  in  this 
particular.  Tongs  are  the  only  apparatus  allowed  for 
taking  oysters,  and  the  quantity  of  oysters  permitted 
per  single  boat  is  limited  to  3,500  bushels  per  week. 
No  oysters  measuring  less  than  2i  inches  from  hinge  to 
mouth  can  be  taken. 

Red  snapper. — The  red  snapper  was*  the  most  im- 
portant of  the  kinds  of  fish  caught,  and  in  1908  con- 
stituted nearly  one-fourth  of  all  products  both  in 
quantity  and  in  value.  It  is  a  deep-sea  fish,  the  fish- 
ing being  done  with  lines  in  from  20  to  75  fathoms  of 
water,  and  the  catch  figures  solely  in  the  vessel  fish- 
eries. This  fishery  centers  at  Mobile,  and  the  vessels 
go  as  far  east  as  Tampa,  Fla.,  and  as  far  west  as  the 
Mexican  coast. 

Mullet. — The  mullet  ranked  next  in  importance  in 
1908,  and  formed  16  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  of 


82 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,'  1908. 


the  products,  although  its  value  formed  only  9  per 
cent  of  the  total  value.  It  is  chiefly  a  product  of  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  is  caught  almost  entirely 
in  trammel  nets,  less  than  4  per  cent  being  caught  in 
seines  and  gill  nets  in  1908. 

Catfish. — The  catfish  ranked  third  in  the  order  of 
value.  The  figures  for  this  fish  represent  both  the 
fresh-water  and  the  salt-water  varieties,  and  practically 
all  of  the  catch  was  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  They  are  caught  with  a  variety  of  appara- 
tus— trammel  nets,  fyke  nets,  lines,  seines,  and  traps. 

Other  -products. — The  buffalo  fish,  squeteague,  and 
fresh-water  drum  were  important  products  of  about 


equal  commercial  value.  The  buffalo  fish  and  the  drum 
were  caught  in  the  Termessee  River  and  the  fresh- 
water tributaries  of  the  Gulf,  while  the  squeteague  was 
reported  by  both  the  shore  and  the  vessel  fisheries  of 
the  Gulf  district.  Hickory  shad  and  carp  were  re- 
ported solely  from  the  Tennessee  River,  and  groupers 
and  shrimp  solely  by  the  vessel  fisheries.  Black  bass, 
sturgeon,  and  sunfish  were  taken  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  as  well  as  in  the 
Tennessee  River,  and  the  remainder  of  the  enumer- 
ated products  were  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
district. 


ALABAMA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PEODCCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Lines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Fyke  nets. 

Woaden  traps. 

Seines. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

10,665,000 

$387,000 

3,553,000 

$120,000 

2,271,000 

$58,000 

386,000 

$24,000 

107,000 

$6,100 

150,000 

$4,400 

4,198,000 

$175,000 

Fish: 

36,000 

6,400 

226,000 

22,000 
323,000 

23,000 
8,200 

72,000 
151,000 
151,000 

31,000 

394,000 

59,000 

1,656;  000 

3,800 

24,000 

2,636,000 

13,000 

83,000 

208,000 

6,200 
80,000 

9,100 
17,000 

246,000 
37,000 
4,400 
13,000 

"3,314,000 
M40,000 
'378,000 

3,600 
300 

n,ooo 

1,600 
17,000 

1,200 

100 

1,400 

10,000 

6,800 

1,600 

3,900 

2,700 

33,000 

400 

1,200 

92,000 

600 

1,600 
10,000 

300 

4,600 

600 

300 

6,100 

1,200 

300 

300 

132,000 

37,000 

4,100 

9,300 

900 

25,000 
6,200 
56,000 

2,500 

300 

1,100 

1,200 

100 

200 

(0 

31,000 
6,900 
85,000 

4,800 

1,800 

600 

6,000 

200 

128,000 

9,800 

93,000 

500 

7,200 

700 

5,700 

10,000 
5,400 
21,000 

600 

300 

1,600 

122,000 

18,000 
4,700 

66,000 

1,700 

120,000 

15,000 

3,700 

900 
100 

1,100 
100 

5,300 

700 

1,600 

(') 

Crevallfi' " ' 

500 
10,000 

<^4 

4,100 
40,000 
13,000 

100 

2,800 

700 



3,000 

100 

Drum,  fresh- water 

79,000 

6,600 

32,000 

1,900 

12,000 
500 

500 

6,000 
16,000 

300 

800 

394,000 
16,000 

3,900 
800 

22,000 

1,100 

20,000 

800 

1,594,000 
600 

16,000 

32,000 
<=) 

800 

56,000 
100 

1,700 

1,100 
100 

5,606 
300 

6,000 

166 

3,000 

200 
2,635,000 

300 
92,000 

(') 

300 

Spanish  mackerel 

12,000 
65,000 
149,000 

600 
1,300 
7,500 

100 
11,000 
18,000 

900 

600 
6,000 
6,000 

W 

800 
36,000 

5,600 
12,000 
4,700 
6,600 

246,000 

(=) 
1,800 

200 
700 
300 
100 

6,100 

100 

200 

700 
50,000 
2,100 

(«) 

3,000 
200 

19,000 

900 

Sunfish  and  bream .... 

2,300 
8,600 



100 
200 

1,500 

{■»■) 

37,000 
200 

1,200 
100 

4,200 
13,000 

•3,314,000 
M40,000 
»  378, 000 

300 

300 

Oysters,  market,  from  pub- 

132,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  pri- 

37,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 

4,100 

1                    1               1 

1                   1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catr-h,  as  follows:  Tongs,  4,132,000  pounds,  valued  at  $173,000;  gill  nets,  35,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  spears,  etc.,  14,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $700;  and  minor  apparatus,  17,000  pounds,  valued  at  $600.  .  .      ,    , 

«  Less  than  $100.  "  473,000  bushels.  «  63,000  bushels.  '  84,000  bushels. 


ARKANSAS. 

The  fishing  grounds  of  Arkansas  are  principally  the 
Mississippi  River;  its  tributaries,  the  Arkansas,  White, 
St.  Francis,  Ouachita,  Black,  and  Cache  Rivers;  and 
Big  Lake.  Buffalo  fish  and  catfish  were  the  leading 
species  of  fish  caught,  while  mussel  shells,  together 
with  pearls  and  slugs,  almost  equaled  in  importance 
these  two  fish  products  combined.  The  following 
statement  gives  a  general  summary  of  the  state's  fish- 
eries for  1908: 


Number  of  persons  employed 998 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $45, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 31, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property 13, 000 

Value  of  products 207,000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — A  comparison 
of  the  figures  for  1908  with  those  for  previous  years 
shows  a  considerable  increase  in  the  fishery  invest- 
ments and  products.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  a  summary  of  the  fisheries  of  Arkansas  for 
1894,  1899,  and  1908: 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


88 


J908. 
1S99. 
1894. 


Persons 

em- 
ployed. 


998 
403 
750 


Value  of 
equip- 
ment and 

other 
capital. 


889,000 
39.000 
37,000 


Quantity       ^  , 
(pounds).       ^*™*- 


12,567,000 
4,897,000 
3,876,000 


r207,000 
168,000 
116,000 


It  will  be  noticed  that  the  rate  of  increase  in  the 
quantity  of  products  between  1899  and  1908  is  mucli 
higher  than  the  rate  for  the  value  of  products.  This 
disproportion  is  in  large  part  due  to  the  development 
of  the  mussel  fisheries,  the  products  of  which  amounted 
to  8,060,000  pounds  in  1908,  whereas  none  at  all  were 
reported  in  1899.  While  mussel  shells  add  greatly  to 
the  total  weight  of  the  state's  fishery  products,  they 
are  of  relatively  small  value.  Exclusive  of  the  mussel 
fishery,  the  quantity  of  products  declined  from 
4,897,000  pounds  to  4,507,000  pounds,  and  their  value . 
from  $168,000  to  $137,000. 

Persons  employed. — The  data  as  to  the  persons  em- 
ployed in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  during  1908  are  as 
follows : 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

CLASS. 

Number. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Wages. 

Total. 

998 

'861 

137 

120,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries  .   .                  ... 

981 
17 

855 
6 

126 
11 

16,000 

3,500 

>  Exclusive  of  three  proprietors  not  fishing. 

The  industry  is  carried  on  largely  by  independent 
fishermen,  only  a  few  of  the  fishermen  employing  help- 
ers. A  large  proportion  of  the  137  wage-earners  were 
employed  by  a  few  proprietors  on  Big  Lake,  and  the 
small  total  of  wages  paid  suggests  the  intermittent 
character  of  much  of  the  employment. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — Statistics  as  to  the  num- 
ber and  value  of  the  different  kinds  of  equipment  em- 
ployed, and  the  amount  of  other  capital  invested,  are 
presented  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


CLASS  or  INVESTMENT. 


Total. 


Transporting  vessels  (steam  and  motor),  Including  outfit. 

Vessels 

Tonnage 

Outfit 

Boats. 


Steam  and  motor 

Row 

Apparatus  of  capture  (shore  and  boat  fisheries) . 

Dip  nets 

Firearms 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Spears 

Pound  nets 

Seines 

Trammel  nets 

Traps,  otter 

Shore  and  accessory  property 


EQUIPMENT      AND 
OTHER       capital; 

1908. 


Number. 


1,154 

117 

1,037 


5 
45 
3,038 
46 
127 
37 
21 
10 


Value. 


$89,000 


8,100 


1,500 
37,000 
18,000 
19,000 
31,000 


13,000 


The  value  of  vessels  and  boats  together  made  up 
one-half  of  the  investment.  As  would  be  expected 
in  river  fisheries,  no  sailing  craft  were  reported.  Of 
the  apparatus  of  capture,  fyke  and  hoop  nets  were 
most  numerous,  with  a  value  greater  than  that  of  all 
other  kinds  of  apparatus  combined. 

Products,  by  species. — The  table  on  page  84  gives  the 
quantity  and  value  of  the  products  of  the  Arkansas 
fisheries,  distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of 
capture. 

Fifteen  species  of  fish  were  reported,  besides  frogs, 
turtles,  mussel  shells,  and  pearls  and  slugs.  Mussel 
shells  and  pearls  and  slugs  made  up  one-third  of  the 
total  value  of  products.  The  catch  of  buffalo  fish  was 
the  most  important  among  the  fish,  and  catfish  and 
black  bass  were  next  in  order.  These  four  species  con- 
tributed 80  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
In  1899  also  buffalo  fish  and  catfish  were  the  leading 
species.  Black  bass,  however,  was  one  of  the  minor 
species  in  1899.  Crappie,  fifth  in  importance  in  1908, 
stood  third  in  1899,  while  paddlefish  and  caviar, 
although  of  httle  importance  in  1908,  stood  fourth  in 
1899. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — The  distribution  of  the 
products  by  fishing  grounds  is  given  below : 


FISHERY  products:   1908. 

nSHINO  OEOCND. 

Total. 

other  than  mussel 
shells,  pearls, 
and  slugs. 

Mussel  shells, 

pearls, 

and  slugs. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

12,567,000 

R!07,000 

4,507,000 

»137,000 

8,060,000 

170,000 

White  River 

St.  Francis  River. . 
Big  Lake.        .  . . 

7,070,000 
242,000 
747,000 
577,000 
829,000 
67,000 

1,035,000 

89,000 
39,000 
24,000 
17,000 
4,700 
4,000 

30,000 

1,110,000 

942,000 

747,000 

577,000 

29.000 

67,000 

1,035,000 

29,000 
33.000 
24,000 
17,000 
700 
4,000 

30,000 

5.960,000 
1,300,000 

69,000 
6,500 

Black  River 

800,000 

4,000 

Mississippi   River 

The  fisheries  of  the  White  River  were  the  most 
important  in  the  state,  measured  by  value  of  products, 
and  the  mussel  fisheries  contributed  the  larger  part  of 
the  product.  Only  two  other  rivers,  the  St.  Francis 
and  the  Black,  reported  mussel  fisheries. 

Products,  ly  apparatus  of  capture. — In  1908  crowfoot 
dredges,  fyke  nets,  lines,  and  seines  together  were 
credited  with  93  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products, 
ranking  in  importance  in  the  order  named.  In  1899 
crowfoot  dredges  were  not  reported,  and  the  leading 
kinds  of  apparatus  used  were,  in  the  order  of  impor- 
tance, seines,  fyke  nets,  and  set  lines.  In  1899  seines 
took  37  per  cent  in  value  of  the  total  product,  while  in 
1908  they  took  only  15  per  cent  of  the  fish  proper. 
This  decrease  is  counterbalanced  by  the  increases  in  the 
catch  of  fyke  nets  and  lines,  as  shown  by  the  tabular 
statement  following. 


84 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


PBODUCT3  CAUGHT  BY— 

TSAB. 

Fyke  nete. 

Lines. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,286,000 
1,405.000 

J53,000 
46,000 

1,081.000 
682,000 

148,000 

1899      

30,000 

Buffalo  fish. — In  1908  the  buffalo-fish  catch  repre- 
sented 21  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products, 
compared  with  31  per  cent  in  1899.  The  product  of 
this  species  has  decreased  shghtly  in  quantity  and 
still  more  in  value.  The  gain  over  1894,  however,  is 
substantial,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


1908. 
1899. 
1894. 


BDITALO-nSH 
PBODUCT. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


2,061,000 
2,389,000 
1,826,000 


Value. 


$43,000 
53,000 
31,000 


Catfish. — Catfish  contributed  16  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  products  in  1908,  as  compared  with 
approximately  25  per  cent  in  1899.  Although  the 
catch  has  increased  since  1899,  the  value  has  decreased. 
The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  product  for 
1894,  1899,  and  1908: 


TEAR. 

CATFISH  PBODUCT. 

Quantity, 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

895.000 
829.000 
905,000 

»33,000 
42,000 

1899 

1894..                     

38,000 

Other  leading  products. — In  1908  the  value  of  the 
black  bass  caught,  $20,000,  formed  10  per  cent  of  the 
entire  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  state,  the 
quantity  being  much  larger  than  in  1899,  when  its 
value  was  $10,000.  The  catch  of  crappie  in  1908 
was  approximately  25  per  cent  heavier  than  in  1899, 
but  of  about  the  same  value.  The  total  catch  of 
fresh-water  drum  has  increased  one-tliird  in  quantity 
and  one-seventh  in  value  since  1899. 


A 

RKA^ 

rSAS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS: 

1908. 

TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Fyke  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Pound  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.^ 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(povmds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Total 

12,567,000 

$207,000 

2,286,000 

$53,000 

1,081,000 

$48,000 

275,000 

$7,100 

129,000 

$3,900 

8,105,000 

$74,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

Bream,  or  sunfish. 

292,000 
228,000 
2,061,000 
176,000 
896,000 

300,000 

402,000 

71,000 

800 
14,000 

1,300 
15,000 
12,000 
16,000 

2,000 

27,000 

6,000 

8,060,000 

20,000 
6,000 

43,000 
4,100 

33,000 

13,000 
8,900 
2,000 

700 
300 

100 
900 
200 

1.000 

(n 

4,000 

100 

42,000 

28,000 

100 

7,000 

70,000 

1,490,000 

102,000 

216,000 

71,000 

284,000 

19,000 

600 

1,600 

32,000 

2,400 

7,100 

2,800 

6,000 

600 

222,000 
44,000 
73,000 
23,000 

535,000 

104,000 
55,000 

15,000 

1,600 

1,800 

700 

20,000 

5,100 
1,700 

21,000 
72,000 

287,000 
29,000 

106,000 

58,000 
65,000 
52,000 

800 
1,000 

1.400 
2,0l» 
6,100 
600 
4,100 

2,700 
1,100 
1,500 

700 

20,000 
27.000 
142,000 
8,500 
25,000 

42,000 
7,700 

1,400 
600 

2,500 
100 
900 

1,500 
100 

18,000 
15,000 
44,000 
10,000 
14,000 

25,000 
800 

1,300 
300 
800 
200 
400 

900 

3,700 

300 

Buflalofish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

8,61)0 
700 

200 

(=) 

Crappie 

Dnun,  fresh-water 

Paddleflsh 

Caviar  and  pad- 
dleflsh eggs 

Pike !! 

3,400 

100 

6,000 

1.300 
4,000 

100 

100 
200 

2,600 

100 

1,200 

P) 

Pike  perch  (wall- 

Hock  bass 

1,900 
12,000 
4,000 

100 
200 
200 

9,200 

600 

Suckers 

White  bass 

12,000 
2,000 

800 
(») 

Another 

Frogs 

27,000 

5,000 

8,060,000 

4,000 
100 

Turtles 

1,000 

i}) 

Mtissel  shells 



42,000 
23,000 

Pearls  and  slugs 

..       . 

Skins,  otter 

(=) 

(=) 

I  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges,  8,060,000  pounds,  valued  at  $70,000;  flrearms,  19,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,900;  harpoons,  spears,  etc., 
20,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,600;  dip  nets  and  traps,  5,000  poimds,  valued  at  $200. 
'  I^ess  than  $100. 
3  Seven  skins. 


CALIFORNIA. 

In  the  value  of  products  from  fisheries,  California 
ranked  second  among  the  Pacific  coast  states  both  at 
the  canvass  of  1904  and  at  that  of  1908.  Sea  fishing  is 
carried  on  along  practically  the  entire  coast  line  of  the 
state,  but  the  river  or  inland  fisheries  are  confined 
almost  exclusively  to  the  rivers  flowing  into  San  Fran- 
cisco Bay,  the  largest  and  most  productive  of  wliich  is 


the  Sacramento.  Humboldt  Bay  is  next  in  impor- 
tance as  a  fishing  ground,  the  salmon  catch  being  the 
principal  product.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  a  summary  of  the  industry  for  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 4, 129 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $1, 066, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 502, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 91,000 

Value  of  products 1,  970, 000 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


86 


Comparison  with  ■previous  canvasses. — The  statistics 
reported  for  the  years  1904  and  1899  are  not  in  all  re- 
spects comparable  with  the  returns  for  1908,  on  ac- 
count of  tlie  inclusion  in  the  earlier  canvasses  of  the 
capital  and  number  of  persons  employed  in  the  can- 
neries and  packing  houses  with  the  data  for  the  fisher- 
ies. The  following  figures,  however,  which  are  exclu- 
sive of  statistics  for  shoresmen,  capital  invested  in 
shore  and  accessory  property,  and  cash  capital,  may 
be  considered  as  comparable: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PE0DUCT3. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels  and 

boats, 
including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1904 

1899 

4,100 
4,406 
3,480 

$1,568,000 
1,489,000 
1,574,000 

$1,066,000 
1,128,000 
1,325,000 

$502,000 
360,000 
250,000 

47,477,000 
52,110.000 
74,559,000 

$1,970,000 
2,523,000 
2,551,000 

In  1908,  as  compared  with  1904,  the  number  of  per- 
sons employed,  exclusive  of  shoresmen,  shows  a  de- 
crease of  7  per  cent  and  the  capital  invested  in  floating 
craft  and  fishing  equipment  an  increase  of  5  per  cent, 
while  the  value  of  products  shows  a  material  loss  of  22 
per  cent,  the  larger  portion  of  which  can  be  attributed 
to  the  decrease  in  the  value  of  products  of  the  oyster 
industry.  From  1899  to  1904  there  was  an  increase 
of  27  per  cent  in  the  number  of  persons  employed,  and 
decreases  of  5  per  cent  in  the  capital  invested  and  of  1 
per  cent  in  the  value  of  products. 

Persons  employed. — The  number  of  persons  em- 
ployed and  the  salaries  and  wages  paid  during  the  year 
1908  in  each  branch  of  the  industry  were  as  follows: 


PERSOK3  employed:  1908. 

Numoer. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ploy- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

4,129 

12,622 

41 
1 

11 
29 

1,466 

618 
128 

720 

$562,000 

215,000 
55,000 

275,000 
17,000 

$26,000 

2 $536, 000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels 
Shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries   

645 
135 

3,320 
29 

26 
7 

2,589 

1,200 
25,000 

214,000 
5,'),  000 

250,000 

shoresmen... 

17,000 

I  Exclusive  of  tliree  proprietors  not  fishing. 

« Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $85,000. 

Of  the  4,129  persons  engaged  in  fishing,  16  per  cent 
were  connected  with  the  vessel  fisheries,  80  per  cent 
with  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  3  per  cent  with 
the  transporting  vessels,  while  only  1  per  cent  were 
employed  exclusively  as  shoresmen.  Of  the  total 
number  of  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen,  99 
per  cent  were  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
These  fisheries,  however,  employed  only  49  per  cent  of 
the  total  number  of  wage-earners,  while  the  vessel 


fisheries  employed  41  per  cent.  The  vessel  fisheries 
and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  not  comparable 
with  respect  to  the  number  of  proprietors  and  inde- 
pendent fishermen,  inasmuch  as  many  of  the  vessels 
are  owned  by  corporations,  while  the  percentage  of 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  conducted  by  corporations 
is  very  small. 

Only  29  of  the  shoresmen  were  reported  as  being 
directly  connected  with  the  fisheries.  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that  this  number  does  not  include 
employees  working  in  canneries,  packing  houses,  or 
fish  markets. 

Equipment  and  otTier  capital. — The  description  and 
value  of  vessels  and  boats  engaged  in  the  fisheries  of 
the  state  and  the  value  of  apparatus  used,  together 
with  the  amount  of  other  capital  invested  in  1908,  are 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


CLASS  OF  mrESTMENT. 

equipment  and 
capital:  1908 

MHER 

Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

Total 

$1,659,000 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

673,000 

412,000 

284,000 

216,000 

68,000 

129,000 

97,000 

31,000 

161,000 

63,000 

S7,0OO 

6,400 

96,000 

80,000 

16,000 

2,200 

493,000 

321,000 

121,000 

30,000 

20,000 

502,000 

19,000 

483,000 

63,000 

28,000 

60 
31 
22 

9,332 

Fishing                                  

4,480 

2,253 

Vessels          .        

Outfit 

Sail.                        .    .          

9 

2,227 

Vessels 

Outfit        .           

21 
14 

4,852 

Steam  and  motor        

182 

Vessels 

Outfit.      .          

Sail 

7 

4,670 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Barges.                                   

8 
2,121 
413 
814 
799 
»5 

.Stpfl.Tn  ftnd  mnt/ir                       

Sail 

Other 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash 

The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  of 
capture  used  was  as  follows : 


Abalone  outfit 

Fvke  and  hoop  nets. . 

Gill  nets 

Paranzeila  nets 

Pots,  crab  and  lobster 

Seines 

shrimp  nets 

Trammel  nets 

Turtle  nets 


apparatus  of  capture:  1908. 


Total. 


66 

1,680 

3,650 

20 

2,874 

146 

295 

2,537 

57 


Used  in— 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


56 

1,580 

3,531 

1 

2,844 

141 

295 

2,522 

57 


Products,  iy  species. — Table  1 ,  on  page  89,  shows  the 
quantity  and  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  state, 
by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

A  comparison  of  the  chief  species  included  in  the 
catch  reported  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  1899 


86 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


and  1904  and  in  that  reported  at  the  present  census,  as 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement,  is  of  interest 
as  showing  the  fluctuations  in  the  fishery  products: 


Total 

Fish: 

Barracuda 

Catflah 

Cod,  salted 

Flounders 

Rockfisli 

Salmon 

Chinook. , , 
Bluebacl:.. 

Silver 

Steelhead  . 

Sardines 

Squeteague,or 
white  sea- 
bass.., 

Smelt 

Sole 

striped  baas... 
Abalone  (meat  and 

shells) 

Crabs 

Oysters 

Shrimp  (meat  and 

shells) 

Spiny  lobster 

Whale  products. . . 

Bone 

Oil  (whale  and 

sperm) 

All  other 


FISHEET  PHODUCTS. 


1908 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


47,477,000 


3,205,000 

1,009,000 

3,298,000 

3,193,000 

2,319,000 

9,211,000 

8,846,000 

147,000 

141,000 

76,000 

4,038,000 


1,337,000 

718,000 

3,487,000 

1,776,000 

1,235,000 

1,702,000 

729,000 

979,000 

573,000 

214,000 

32,000 

182,000 
7,793,000 


Value. 


$1,970,000 


88,000 

56,000 

94,000 

80,000 

60,000 

471,000 

460,000 

4,900 

4,200 

2,800 

30,000 


42,000 

41,000 

65,000 

135,000 

22,000 

69,000 

337,000 

33,000 
69,000 
132,000 
119,000 

13,000 
148,000 


1901 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


52,110,000 


979,000 
1,362,000 
3,874,000 
1,570,000 

834,000 
6,111,000 
1,320,000 

1,832,000 

1,078,000 

412,000 

87,000 

326,000 
5,711,000 


12,523,000 


52,000 

21,000 

132,000 

84,000 

59,000 

450,000 

444,000 

4,300 

5,1)00 

1,600 

12,000 


31,000 
62,000 
69,000 
92,000 

9,400 
155,000 
028,000 

72,000 

43,000 

393,000 

375,000 

18,000 
163,000 


1899 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


46,832,000 


$2,651,000 


938,000 

1,315,000 

32,000 

1,234,000 

895,000 
3,677,000 
2,940,000 

4,047,000 
607,000 
715,000 
207,000 

507,000 
7,272,000 


Value. 


33,000 

13,000 

178,000 

92,000 

38,000 

202,000 

255,000 

800 

2,100 

3,900 

18,000 


20,000 

58,000 

600 

62,000 

33,000 

86,000 

867,000 

111,000 

14,000 

456,000 

436,000 

20,000 
210,000 


Although  the  total  value  of  products  in  1908  shows 
a  material  decrease,  as  compared  with  the  values  for 
the  prior  years,  the  value  of  the  salmon  catch 
increased.  The  value  of  this  catch  formed  24  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  in  1908,  compared 
with  10  per  cent  in  1899.  Other  species  that  have 
increased  notably  are  striped  bass,  barracuda,  spiny 
lobsters,  rockfish,  catfish,  and  squeteague,  or  white  sea 
bass.  Whale  products,  on  the  other  hand,  show  a 
large  and  steady  decrease,  both  actual  and  propor- 
tionate, and  cod,  smelt,  and  shrimp  decreased  in  a  less 
degree. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — The  following  tabular 
statement  shows  the  quantity  and  value  of  products 
taken  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  from  the  different 
waters  of  the  state: 


PRODUCTS 

or  SHOEE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES: 
1908. 

VlSHINa  CrEOUNI>. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

36,860,000 

100 

$1,627,000 

11,643,000 
3,522,000 
8,662,000 

2,888,000 
5,248,000 
2,674,000 
1,635,000 
433.000 
464,000 

32 
10 
23 

8 
14 

617,000 
431,000 
249,000 

96,000 
89,000 
67,000 
62,000 
8,900 
6,200 

San  Francisco  Bay.  .. 

26 

Humboldt  Bay,  including  Eel  and 
Mad  Rivera 

6 

Monterey  Bay 

5 

Santa  Barbara  Channel 

4 

Klamath  River 

1 

San  Luis  Obispo  Bay 

(•) 

I  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Of  the  total  products  taken  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  in  1908,  products  from  the  Sacramento  River 
formed  32  per  cent  in  quantity  and  38  per  cent  in 
value.  Salmon  was  the  principal  species  caught 
in  this  river  and  amounted  to  7,292,000  pounds. 
Striped  bass  was  next  in  importance,  the  quantity 
reported  being  1,690,000  pounds.  Other  species 
taken  were  as -follows:  Catfish,  1,068,000  pounds; 
shad,  1,055,000  pounds;  carp,  425,000  pounds;  black 
bass,  82,000  pounds;  pike,  20,000  pounds;  and  stur- 
geon, 10,000  pounds.  The  total  catch  taken  from  the 
Sacramento  River  and  the  product  of  salmon,  striped 
bass,  catfish,  shad,  carp,  and  black  bass  for  that  river 
show  substantial  gains  since  1904. 

San  Francisco  Bay  was  second  in  rank  according 
to  the  value  of  products,  although  the  quantity  of 
products  taken  from  the  Pacific  Ocean  was  greater. 
This  is  due  largely  to  the  fact  that  much  of  the  ocean 
product  does  not  compare  in  value  with  the  salmon 
and  other  choice  species  taken  in  the  bay.  The  oyster 
product  of  San  Francisco  Bay  also  affected  the  relative 
value  of  the  catch  to  a  large  extent.  Herring  was  the 
principal  species  taken  in  the  bay  fisheries,  the 
weight  of  the  catch  amounting  to  450,000  pounds. 
Smelt  ranked  next  in  respect  to  quantity,  with  278,000 
pounds,  and  sea  bass  followed,  with  271,000  pounds. 
Rockfish,  striped  bass,  and  sardines  were  also  taken 
in  considerable  quantities. 

In  Humboldt  Bay  and  its  tributaries  there  were 
taken,  besides  salmon,  the  following:  Smelt,  132,000 
pounds;  fiounders,  112,000  pounds;  herring,  26,000 
pounds;  rockfish,  63,000  pounds;  and  crabs,  1,411,000 
pounds.  Hard  and  soft  clams  also  were  marketed  in 
considerable    quantities. 

The  sardine  catch  of  Monterey  Bay  amounted  to 
1,782,000  pounds,  and  was  valued  at  $8,900.  The  low 
value  per  pound  of  sardines  causes  the  average  value 
per  pound  of  the  products  of  this  bay  to  be  lower  than 
that  for  any  other  waters  of  the  state,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  San  Luis  Obispo  Bay.  More  than  two-thirds 
of  the  abalone  catch  of  the  state  is  credited  to  Monterey 
Bay.  Other  products  were  rockfish,  1 ,850,000  pounds ; 
barracuda,  383,000  pounds;  sea  bass,  365,000  pounds; 
and  squid,  110,000  pounds. 

Products,  hy  class  of  fisheries. — The  next  tabular 
statement  shows  the  leading  products  ranked  accord- 
ing to  value,  and  their  distribution  between  the  vessel 
and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

The  vessel  fisheries  of  California  are  of  minor  impor- 
tance, compared  with  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
their  product  contributing  in  1908  only  17  per  cent 
to  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  state. 

Table  3,  on  page  91,  shows  the  product  of  the  ves- 
sel fisheries  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 
Ranked  according  to  the  value  of  products,  whaling 
apparatus  was  of  first  importance  among  the  various 
kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture  used  by  the  vessel 
fisheries,  and  it  was  followed  by  lines,  paranzella  nets, 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


87 


seines,  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  and  gill  nets,  in  the  order 
named. 


Total. 


Fish 

Salmon 

Chinook 

Blucback 

Silver 

Steelhead 

Striped  baas 

Cod 

Barracuda 

Flounders 

Sole 

Rockfisb 

Catfish 

Squetcaguc,  or  white  sea-bass . 

Smelt 

Sardines 

All  other 

Ovsters 

Whale  products  (bone  and  oil) 

Crabs 

Spiny  lobster 

Shrimp 

Abalone,  Including  shells 

Another 


VALUE  or  products:  1908. 


Total. 


tl, 970, 000 


1,292,000 

471,000 

460,000 

4,900 

4,200 

2,800 

133,000 

94,000 

88,000 

80,000 

65,000 

60,000 

56,000 

42,000 

41,000 

30.000 

131,000 

337,000 

132,000 

69,000 

69,000 

31,000 

22,000 

19,000 


I    Vessel 
fisheries. 


1343,000 


209,000 


94,000 
900 
10,000 
60,000 
6,100 


400 


14,000 

22,000 

(') 

132,000 

200 

1,900 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


tl,  627, 000 


1,083,000 

471,000 

460,000 

4,900 

4,200 

2,800 

135,000 


87,000 
69,000 
4,400 
54,000 
56,000 
42,000 
41,000 
16,000 
109,000 
337,000 


68,000 
67,000 
31,000 
22.000 
19,000 


I  The  oyster  catch  of  one  vessel  is  included  with  that  of  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries. 

The  products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the 
state  were  valued  at  $1,627,000  in  1908,  compared 
with  $1,864,000  in  1904,  a  decrease  of  13  per  cent. 
In  1908  these  products  formed  83  per  cent  of  the  total 
product  of  the  state,  and  in  1904,  74  percent.  Table 
2,  on  page  90,  gives  the  products  of  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 
All  of  the  salmon  catch  of  the  state  was  made  by  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  It  was  necessary  to  credit 
the  entire  oyster  catch  to  this  class  of  fisheries  in  order 
to  avoid  disclosing  the  operations  of  one  company 
operating  an  oyster  vessel. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  catch  by  each  kind  of 
apparatus  for  each  class  of  fisheries : 


KIND  or  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Gill  nets 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. .. 

Lines 

Pots,  crab  and  lobster 
Whaling  apparatus. . . 

Seiue.s 

Paranzella  nets 

Fyke  nets 

Trammel  nets 

Shrimp  nets 

Another' 


VALUE  or  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$1,970,000 


769,000 
337,000 
212,000 
137,000 
132,000 
116,000 
87,000 
62,000 
52,000 
33,000 
34,000 


fisheries. 


1343,000 


6,000 

S'> 
101,000 

1,900 

132,000 

15.000 

87,000 


400 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$1,627,000 


763,000 
337,000 
111,000 
135,000 


101,000 
100 
62,000 
51,000 
33,000 
34,000 


'  The  catch  of  ono  vessel  ia  included  with  that  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
» Includes  apparatus,  with  value  of  cutch,  as  follows:  Abalone  outfit,  $22,000; 
turtle  nets,  $1,300;  and  minor  apparatus,  $11,000. 


Judged  by  the  value  of  products  taken,  gill  nets  led 
among  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  used  in  the  fisher- 
ies of  the  state.  The  largest  catch  made  with  these  nets 
was  Chinook  salmon,  which  had  a  value  of  $409,000, 
or  53  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  product  taken 
by  this  apparatus.  Barracuda,  sea  bass,  smelt,  and 
striped  bass  were  also  largely  caught  in  gill  nets. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  which  ranked  second  in  the 
value  of  the  products  taken,  were  used  exclusively  in 
the  oyster  fisheries. 

Third  in  importance  were  hand,  trawl,  and  set  lines. 
Some  species  are  taken  only  by  line  fishing,  cod  being 
among  the  most  notable  of  these  both  in  quantity  and 
value.  Black  cod,  redfish,  sea  trout,  and  swordfish  are 
other  species  the  entire  product  of  which  was  caught 
by  lines.  The  quantity  and  value  reported  for  each 
of  these  species  are  much  less  than  for  cod. 

The  seine  catch  of  chinook  salmon  was  fhe  greatest 
in  value  among  the  products  taken  by  seines,  although 
the  weight  of  the  seine  sardine  catch  was  more  than 
five  times  as  great,  namely,  4,552,000  pounds,  repre- 
senting 66  per  cent  of  the  total  weight  of  the  seine 
catch.  Smelt  to  the  value  of  $13,000  were  caught  with 
seines.  In  the  case  of  every  other  species  the  catch 
by  this  apparatus  was  of  minor  importance. 

The  paranzella  net  is  peculiar  to  the  fishing  of  Cali- 
fornia, none  having  been  reported  in  use  in  any  other 
state.  Sole  was  the  principal  species  caught  with  this 
kind  of  apparatus,  representing  69  per  cent  of  the 
quantity  and  69  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  entire  par- 
anzella catch.  Whitefish,  flounders,  kingfish,  and 
skates  were  also  taken  in  considerable  quantities. 

Catfish  formed  the  principal  catch  with  fyke  nets, 
while  flounders  were  practically  the  only  species 
caught  with  trammel  nets. 

Salmon. — In  1908  salmon  stood  first  both  in  quan- 
tity and  in  value  among  the  species  taken  in  California 
waters.  The  state  ranked  third  in  the  country  both 
in  the  quantity  and  in  the  value  of  the  catch  of  salmon. 
Chinook  was  the  principal  kind  taken,  forming  96  per 
cent  of  the  total  yield  of  salmon  in  1908  and  represent- 
ing 23  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products 
of  the  state.  There  was  an  increase  in  the  quantity 
and  in  the  value  of  this  product  sold  fresh,  as  compared 
with  the  catch  for  1904  reported  by  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries,  but  a  decrease  in  the  salted  product  resulted 
in  a  decrease  in  the  total  quantity  of  chinook  taken. 
The  total  value,  however,  increased  slightly. 

The  next  tabular  statement  shows  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  salmon  taken  from  the  different 
waters  of  the  state. 

The  Sacramento  Kiver  is  the  principal  fishing 
ground  for  salmon.     Of  the  total  quantity,  79  per 


88 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


cent  was  taken  from  that  river.  Humboldt  Bay  and 
tributaries  were  next  in  importance,  being  credited 
with  12  per  cent  of  the  total  catch.  Klamath  River, 
Monterey  Bay,  and  San  Francisco  Bay  ranked  in  the 
order  named  as  to  the  quantity  taken,  but  in  respect 
to  value  the  catch  from  Monterey  Bay  exceeded  that 
from  the  Klamath  River.  The  lower  value  per  pound 
of  the  Klamath  River  catch  may  be  attributed  to  the 
cost  of  shipping  the  product  from  Klamath  River  to 
San  Francisco  or  to  other  markets. 


nSHINQ  GEOtTND. 


Total 

Sacramento  River 

Humboldt  Bay,  including  Eel  and  Mad  Elvers 

Monterey  Bay 

Klamath  River 

San  Francisco  Bay 


salmon:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


9,211,000 


7,292,000 

1,120,000 

336,000 

433,000 

31,000 


Value. 


$471,000 


412,000 

37,000 

12,000 

8,900 

1,700 


Striped  iass. — In  value  of  the  catch  striped  bass 
ranked  second  among  the  species  reported  for  Cali- 
fornia, although  larger  quantities  of  sardines,  sole, 
cod,  barracuda,  flounders,  and  rockfish  were  caught. 
The  quantity  of  striped  bass  reported  for  1908  was 
greater  by  205,000  pounds,  or  13  per  cent,  than  that 
reported  for  1904,  while  the  value  was  greater  by 
$43,000,  or  47  per  cent. 

Cod. — This  species,  third  in  value  of  product,  was 
reported  only  by  vessel  fisheries,  and  was  taken  largely 
off  the  coast  of  Alaska.  Six  vessels  with  a  total  net 
tonnage  of  1,889  were  engaged  in  this  fishery  in  1908. 
None  of  this  product  was  reported  as  being  sold  fresh, 
all  being  salted  before  the  vessels  returned  from  the 
fishing  grcmnds.  The  catch  for  1908  was  less  by 
2,325,000  pounds,  or  41  per  cent,  than  that  reported 
for  1904,  when  the  amount  was  5,623,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $132,000. 

Barracuda. — ^Barracuda  increased  both  in  quantity 
and  in  value  from  1904  to  1908.  The  product  sold 
fresh  increased  in  weight  1,160,000  pounds,  or  59  per 
cent,  and  in  value  $40,000,  or  90  per  cent.  The 
salted  product,  however,  showed  a  considerable  de- 
crease, the  loss  in  weight  being  104,000  pounds,  or 
48  per  cent,  and  that  in  value  $4,100,  or  54  per  cent. 

Flounders  and  sole. — In  the  group  of  flat  fishes,  both 
flounders  and  sole  showed  decreases,  as  compared  with 
1904.  In  1908  the  catch  of  sole  was  greater  than 
that  of  flomiders,  but  the  value  of  the  latter  was 


greater.  The  reports  of  1904  show  a  product  of 
4,336,000  pounds  of  flounders,  valued  at  $84,000, 
while  in  1908  the  product  was  only  3,193,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $80,000.  The  decrease  amounted  to  26  per 
cent  in  quantity  and  5  per  cent  in  value.  No  salted 
product  was  reported  by  California  fishermen  in  1908. 
The  quantity  of  sole  caught  in  1904  was  3,874,000 
pounds,  and  in  1908,  3,487,000  pounds,  a  decrease  of 
386,000  pounds,  or  10  per  cent.  The  value  of  the 
catch  during  the  period  indicated  fell  from  $69,000 
to  $65,000,  a  decrease  of  6  per  cent. 

Oysters.— The  oyster  industry,  while  of  considerable 
importance,  has  decreased  gradually  from  1899  to 
1908.  It  is  difficult  adequately  to  explain  this 
decrease.  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  year  1908 
was  a  poor  one,  some  beds  not  yielding  more  than 
10  per  cent  of  the  usual  catch.  All  of  the  oysters 
reported  at  the  present  census  were  taken  from  private 
beds  and  used  for  market  purposes  only.  All  seed 
oysters  planted  during  the  year  were  shipped  from 
eastern  beds  for  that  purpose.  No  attempt  was  made 
at  the  present  census  to  show  separately  the  yield  of 
eastern  and  of  native  species. 

Crustaceans. — Crabs  show  a  decrease  between  1904 
and  1908  of  67  per  cent  in  quantity  and  56  per  cent 
in  value.  Spiny  lobsters  decreased  in  quantity 
during  the  same  period  47  per  cent,  but  the  value 
increased  60  per  cent.  The  decrease  in  the  shrimp 
product  was  47  per  cent  in  quantity  and  54  per  cent 
in  value. 

Abalone. — The  abalone  industry  in  the  United 
States  is  confined  to  California  and  is  materially 
increasing  in  importance.  In  1904  the  total  product 
was  valued  at  $9,400,  while  in  1908  the  value  was 
$22,000,  an  increase  of  134  per  cent. 

Wliale  froducts. — Whale  products  constituted  the 
principal  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  of  California, 
but  showed  a  decrease  in  value  from  1904  to  1908  of 
$261,000,  or  66  per  cent.  Indeed,  there  has  been  a 
steady  decrease  in  whale  products  for  several  years. 
In  1904  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  reported  87,000  pounds 
of  whalebone,  valued  at  $375,000,  and  43,000  gallons 
of  oil,  valued  at  $18,000.  The  whaling  fleet  comprised 
seven  vessels,  of  2,328  tons  net  register. 

Sea  lions. — An  industry  of  considerable  importance 
is  the  capture  of  sea  lions,  which  are  sold  alive  for 
exhibition  purposes.  As  but  one  fishery  of  this  class 
was  reported,  the  product  is  included  in  the  group  of 
"All  other,"  to  avoid  the  disclosure  of  individual 
operations. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— CALIFORNIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


89 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

GUI  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Paranzella  nets. 

Fyke  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

47,477,000 

51,970,000 

18,427,000 

$709,000 

8,136,000 

$212,000 

6,892,000 

$116,000 

4,722,000 

$87,000 

1,218,000 

$62,000 

8,082,000 

$726,000 

Fish: 

220,000 

3,206,000 

82,000 

35,000 

329,000 
427,000 

1,069,000 
197,000 

3,298,000 

68,000 
167,000 

6,681,000 
32,000 

825,000 

39,000 

161,000 

682,000 

3,600 

89,000 

13,000 
2,319,000 

20,000 

147,000 

8,846,000 
141,000 

76,000 
4,638,000 

4,900 

32,000 

1,169,000 

124,000 

718,000 

349,000 

1,337,000 

1,776,000 

10,000 

198,000 

7,800 
49,000 
466,000 
12,000 
571,000 
603,000 

1,702,000 
258,000 
721,000 
673,000 

1,005,000 

230,000 

» 132,000 

<  468, 000 

68,000 

'729,000 

110,00(1 

38,000 

32,000 

5  13,000 

'169,000 

1,600 

88,000 

8,200 

400 

6,100 
4,300 

56,000 
3,300 

94,000 

1,800 
4,800 

144,000 
300 

11,000 

600 

2,600 

12,000 
300 

13,000 

200 
60,000 

500 

4,900 

460,000 
4,200 

2,800 
30,000 

200 
300 

12,000 
1,000 

41,000 

5,300 

42,000 

135,000 

500 

5,400 

200 
1,600 
5,800 
400 
14,000 
14,000 

69,000 

31,000 

1,800 

69,000 

16,000 
5,200 
4,500 
5,300 
1,600 

337,000 

4,400 

1,300 

119,000 

90O 

12,000 

55,000 

2,643.000 

40,000 

400 
74,000 
4,000 

165,000 

1,200 

Barracuda 

662,000 

14,000 

Black  bass 

22,000 

2,200 

20,000 

2,000 

35,000 
40,000 

400 
600 

Bonlto 

289,000 
382,000 

5,600 
3,800 

Carp,  German.. 
Catfish . . 

45,000 
1,068,000 

400 
56,000 

400 
24,000 

^'^ 

Chub  mackerel . 

173,000 

3,100 



Cod,  salted 

3,298,000 

94,000 

Croaker 

29,000 
400 

526,000 
32,000 

634,000 
39,000 
35,000 
87,000 
1,600 

25,000 

900 

(•) 

10,000 
300 

8,500 
600 
700 

1,800 
100 

4,600 

29,000 

900 

129,000 
460,000 

3,600 
12,000 

38,000 
3,629,000 

1,100 
68,000 

Flounders  and 

122,000 

2,200 

1,944,000 

51,000 

Hake,  silver. ... 

Herring 



192,000 

2,500 

119,000 
16,000 

1,800 
200 

7,500 

KinEfish 

Mullet 

238,000 
2,100 

64,000 

3,200 
300 

7,900 

341,000 

6,500 

Pompano,     or 
butterflsh 

3,000 

13,000 
2,189,000 

300 

200 
67,000 

7,200 

400 

KedfLsh,  or  fat- 
head    . 

Eockfish 

59,000 
20,000 

83,000 

7,682,000 
106,000 

19,000 
86,000 

4,900 

1,200 
600 

2,800 

411,000 
3,200 

700 
400 

200 

8,000 

(.') 

63,000 

2,400 

Sacramento 

Baknon,    blue- 
back 

64,000 

870,000 
35,000 

13,000 
4,652,000 

2,100 

38,000 
1,000 

500 
30,000 

Salmon,      Chi- 
nook   

294,000 

10,000 

200 

(') 

Salmon,    steel- 

6,000 

500 

39,000 

1,200 

Sardines 

Scarbina 

32,000 
400 

300 

Shad 

1,143,000 

12,000 

1,000 
124,000 

1,000 

25,000 

200 

Skat&s 

Smelt 

498,000 

243,000 

1,316,000 

1,739,000 

10,000 

83,000 

28,000 

4,000 

41,000 

131,000 

500 

2,100 

220,000 

13,000 

Spanish  mack- 

106,000 

14,000 
800 

1,400 

600 
100 

Squcteague,  or 

100 
16,000 

(») 
1,500 

6,400 

200 

Striped  bass 

20,000 

2,000 

Surf-flsh,  or  vi- 
V  i  p  a  r  0  u  s 
perch 

4,100 
7,8 

100 

111,000 

3,200 

Swordfish 

Tomcod 

2,000 

lOO 

1,300 

100 

46,000 
460,000 

1,300 
5,600 

Whiteflsh 

6,700 

200 

Yellowfin 

6,500 
240.000 
95,000 

200 
5,500 
6,400 

7,000 

28,000 

7,200 

200 
900 
300 

Yellowtail 

303,000 
500,000 

7,400 
6,700 

All  other 

300 
5,100 

200 

1,697,000 
258,000 
721,000 
573,000 

1,005,000 

230,000 

» 132,000 

M68,000 

68,000 

'729,000 

68,000 

31,000 

1,800 

69,000 

Shrimp  shells 

Sptay  lobster 

Abalone. . 

16,000 
5,200 

Abalone  shells 

4,500 

5,306 
1,600 

337  000 

Oysters,  market, 
from  private  areas 
Squid... 

110,000 

4,400 

Turtles 

.    .. 

38,000 

32,000 

•13,000 

'169,000 

1,300 

Whalebone . 

119,000 
900 



. 

Oil,  sperm  . 



12,000 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  729,000  pounds,  valued  at  $.337,000;  pots,  2,270,000  pounds,  valued  at  $137,000;  whaling  apparatus, 
214,000  pounds,  valued  at  $132,000;  trammel  nets,  1,951,000  pounds,  valued  at  $52,000;  turtle  and  shrimp  nets,  1,017,000  pounds,  valued  at  $34,000;  abalone  outfit, 
1,^6,000  pounds,  valued  at  $22,000;  and  minor  apparatus,  667,000  pounds,  valued  at  $11,000. 

a  Less  than  $100.  >  16,000  bushels.  *  47,000  bushels.  '  104,000  bushels.  •  1,700  gallons.  » 23,000  gallons. 


90 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— CALIFORNIA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES;  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY- 

SPECDBS. 

GUI  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Fyke  nets. 

Paranzella  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Total 

36,860,000 

»1, 627, 000 

18,388.000 

J763,000 

4,619,000 

Jill, 000 

4,794,000 

S101,000 

1,218,000 

$62,000 

4,000 

JlOO 

7,838,000 

1891,000 

Fish: 

510,000 
32,000 
220,000 
3,001,000 
112,000 

82,000 
35,000 
329,000 
427,000 
1,069,000 

58,000 

117,000 

2,741,000 

32,000 
825,000 

39,000 
138,000 

22,000 

337,000 

173,000 

3,600 

82,000 

13,000 

2,131,000 

8,800 

20,000 

147,000 
8,808,000 

39,000 
141,000 

76,000 

2,667,000 

4,900 

32,000 

1,169,000 

718,000 

222,000 
326,000 
23,000 

1,326,000 
1,776,000 

10,000 

198,000 
7,800 
3,600 

5,700 
12,000 
564,000 
6,100 
44,000 

1,697,000 
258,000 
721,000 
558,000 

1,005,000 

230,000 

3  132,000 

<  468, 000 

68,000 

•729,000 
110,000 
38,000 

6,600 

900 

1,600 

83,000 

3,500 

8,200 

400 

6,100 

4,300 

56,000 

1,800 
3,200 
69,000 

300 

11,000 

600 

1,700 

800 

5,100 

3,100 

300 

13,000 

200 

54,000 
300 
50O 

4,900 
458,000 
1,700 
4,200 
2,800 

16,000 

200 

30O 

12,000 

41,000 

4,400 

4,600 

70O 

42,000 
135,000 

500 

5,400 
200 
300 

200 
400 
14,000 
200 
700 

68,000 

31,000 

1,800 

67,000 

16,000 
5,200 
4.500 
5,300 

1,600 

337,000 
4,400 
1,300 

42,000 

800 

468,000 
32,000 

5,800 
900 

Albacore  and  tuna,  salted 

55,000 

2,552,000 

73,000 

40,000 

400 
71,000 
2,300 

4,000 

165,000 

1,200 

1 

509,000 
39,000 

12,000 
1,200 

Barracuda,  salted 

22,000 

2,200 

20,000 

2,000 

35,000 
40,000 

400 
600 

289,000 
382,000 

5,500 
3,800 

■■■:;::::::::;:;. 

45,000 
1,068,000 

400 
56,000 

Catfish 

400 
29,000 

(') 
900 

29,000 

400 

400,000 

32,000 

634,000 

39,000 

35,000 

900 

(») 
8,300 

300 

8,500 

600 

700 

117,000 
312,000 

3,200 
7,900 

102,000 

2,000 

2,300 

(•) 

1,925,000 

51,000 

192,000 

2,500 

96,000 
22,000 

16,000 

1,000 
800 

200 

7,500 

lOO 

87,000 

173,000 

1,600 

25,000 

1,800 

3,100 

100 

4,600 

234,000 

3,100 

2,100 
54,000 

300 
7,900 

3,000 

13,000 

2,064,000 

8,800 

300 

200 

63,000 

300 

Redfish,  or  fathead 

"Rofkfish  fresh 

59,000 

1,200 

8,000 

(') 

20,000 

83,000 

7,651,000 

31,000 

106,000 

19,000 

86,000 
4,900 

500 

2,800 

409,000 

1,400 

3,200 

700 

400 
200 

Salmon,  blueback 

Salmon,  chinook  (fresh). . 
Salmon,  chinook  (salted) 

64,000 
863,000 
7,200 
36,000 
13,000 

2,482,000 

2,100 
38,000 

30O 
1,000 

500 

15,000 

294,000 

10,000 

200 

(') 

Salmon,  steelhead 

6,000 

500 

39,000 

1,200 

32,000 
400 

300 

Shad 

1,143,000 
498,000 

126,000 

231,000 

13,000 

1,311,000 
1,739,000 

10,000 

83,000 

12,000 
28,000 

1,900 

3,600 

400 

41,000 
131,000 

600 

2,100 

25,000 

200 

1,000 

(') 

220,000 
20,000 

13,000 
200 

73,000 
95,000 
10,000 

14,000 
800 

2,200 

1,100 

30O 

600 
lOO 

3.000 

100 

Spanish  mackerel,  fresh. . 
Spanish  mackerel,  salted. 
Sq ueteague,  or  white  sea- 

100 
16,000 

1% 

20,000 

2,000 

Surf-iish,  or  viviparous 

4,100 
7,800 

100 
200 

111,000 

3,200 

2,000 

100 

1,300 

100 

300 

(') 

Whifpfi<;h 

5,700 

200 

5,600 
240,000 

200 
5,500 

7,000 
28,000 

200 
900 

Ypilowtail  fresh 

296,000 
6,100 

7,200 
200 

Vpllnwtjiil   malted 

All  other 

37,000 

300 

7,000 

300 

300 

m 

1,697,000 
258, 000 
721,000 
558,000 

1,005,000 

230,000 

>  1,12,000 

<  468, 000 

68,000 

•729,000 

68,000 

31,000 

1,800 

67,000 

16,000 

6,200 

4,500 

5,300 

1,600 

Oysters,  market,  from  prl- 

337,000 

110,000 

4,400 

38,000 

1,300 

'Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,tongs,etc.,729,000pounds,  valued  at  $337,000;  pots,  2,256,000  pounds,  valued  at  $135,000;  trammel  nets,  1,936,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $51,000;  turtle  and  shrimp  nets,  1,017,000  pounds,  valued  at  $34,000;  abalone  outnt,  1,235,000  pounds,  valued  at  $22,000;  and  minor  apparatus,  667,000 

'  Less  than  $100.    '     >  16,000  bushels.         <  47,000  bushels.         •  Includes  the  product  of  one  establishment  belonghig  to  the  vessel  fisheries.         •  102,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— CALIFORNIA— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


91 


PBODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECTE8. 

Lines. 

Paraniella  nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total                        ..  .. 

10,617,000 

$343,000 

3,517,000 

$101,000 

4,718,000 

$87,000 

2,098,000       $15,000 

39,000 

$6,000 

244,000 

$134, 000 

Fish: 

1 
31,000              900 

13,000 

3,298,000 

12,000 

72,000 

400 

94,000 

400 

2,200 

18,000 

500 

Cod   "jaltpfl 

3,298,000 

50,000 

452,000 

345,000 

24,000 

7,200 

179,000 

2,071,000 

12,000 

124,000 
3,265,000 

46,000 
480,000 

19,000 

5,100 

15,000 

32,000 

'13,000 

'169,000 

94,000 
1,500 

10,000 
6,500 

200 

400 

6,100 

14,000 

400 

1,000 
60,000 
1,300 
5,600 
5,300 

200 

1,900 

119,000 

900 

12,000 

38,666 
365,000 
341,000 

1,100 
7,700 
6,500 

15,000 

400 

3,600 
24,000 

100 
200 

7,200 
63,000 

400 
2,400 

Rockfish 

116,000 

3,700 

2,071,000 

14,000 

6,400 

124,000 

3,262,000 

46,000 

460,000 

200 

1,000 

60,000 

1,300 

5,600 

5,200 

200 

Skates 

Sole 

3,400 

100 

Whitefish 



All  other 

3,300 

(') 

16,000 

5,200 

5,100 

200 

15,000 

32,000 

•13.000 

•169,000 

1,900 

119,000 
900 

12,000 

Per- 
sons 
em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

TEAB. 

Total. 

Vessels 
and  boats. 
Including 

outfit. 

Appa- 
ratus 
of  cap- 
ture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1,895 
2,304 
1,865 
1,826 
2,314 

$1,196,000 

1,077,000 

763,000 

718,000 

868,000 

$1,112,000 

1,014,000 

698,000 

&»7,000 

761,000 

$84,000 
6.3,000 
65,000 
71,000 

106,000 

66,942,000 
74,973,000 
37,832,000 
.31,920,000 
92,672,000 

$2,982,000 
3,174,000 
1,799,000 
1,560,000 
1,658,000 

1905 

1902 

1898      

1889 

'  Exclusive  of  the  oyster  catch  of  one  establishment,  which  Is  Included  under  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  In  order  to  avoid  disclosing  individual  operations. 
>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Whaling  apparatus,  214,000  pounds,  valued  at  $132,000;  pots,  15,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1 ,900;  and  trammel  nets,  15,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $400. 

«  Less  than  $100.  « 1,700  gallons.  •  23,000  gallons. 

CONNECTICUT. 

In  1908  Connecticut  ranked  ninth  among  the  states 
in  the  total  value  of  fishery  products,  while  it  held 
first  place  in  respect  to  the  value  of  the  oyster  product 
and  third  place  in  respect  to  the  menhaden  product. 
The  oyster  industry  formed  by  "far  the  most  important 
part  of  the  fisheries  of  the  state,  and  it  was  to  this 
industry  that  the  Connecticut  fisheries  owed  their 
high  rank.  The  principal  fishing  grounds  are  Long 
Island  Sound  and  the  Connecticut  River,  but  com- 
mercial fishing  is  also  conducted  to  some  extent  on 
the  Saugatuck,  Housatonic,  West,  East,  Indian, 
Four  Mile,  Mystic,  and  Pawcatuck  Rivers,  as  well  as 
on  some  minor  streams  and  inlets.  A  general  sum- 
mary of  the  fisheries  of  the  state  for  1908  is  given  in 
the  following  statement: 

Number  of  persons  employed 2, 147 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $1, 112, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 84, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 1, 086, 000 

Value  of  products 2, 982, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — In  comparing 
the  number  of  persons  employed  in  1908  and  the  num- 
bers employed  in  previous  years,  shoresmen  are  ex- 
cluded, since  the  figures  reported  for  shoresmen  by  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries  include  those  employed  in  packing 
and  canning  establishments  and  other  shore  industries 
connected  with  the  fisheries. 

The  following  tabular  statement  presents  a  com- 
parative summary  of  the  principal  items  of  the  Con- 
necticut fisheries  for  a  series  of  years : 


The  number  of  persons,  exclusive  of  shoresmen, 
employed  in  the  fisheries  decreased  considerably  from 
1889  to  1898.  In  1905  a  relatively  large  number  was 
returned,  but  the  number  reported  in  1908  did  not 
differ  greatly  from  those  for  1902  and  1898.  In  the 
report  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  the  year  1898  the 
decrease  from  1889  to  1898  is  ascribed  principally  to 
the  use  of  better  equipment  both  in  vessels  and  in 
apparatus  of  capture. 

While  there  has  been  considerable  fluctuation  in  the 
quantity  of  the  product,  the  value  increased  steadily 
from  1889  to  1905,  after  which  year  a  slight  decrease 
occurred.  The  total  value  of  equipment,  which  has 
been  advancing  since  1898,  was  greater  in  1908  than 
in  any  previous  year  for  which  statistics  are  available. 

Persons  employed. — The  vessel  fisheries  gave  em- 
ployment directly  to  one-half  of  tlie  persons  employed 
in  the  fisheries  of  the  state,  and  the  majority  of  these 
employees  were  wage-earners.  In  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  on  the  other  hand,  the  wage-earners  formed 
less  than  one-tenth  of  the  persons  engaged  in  fisheries 
of  tliis  class.  All  but  two  of  the  shoresmen  were 
reported  as  connected  with  the  vessel  fisheries. 


92 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  number,  salaries,  and  wages  of  the  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  in  1908  were  as 
f  ollows : 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Pro- 
prie- 
tors 
and 
inde- 
pend- 
ent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ploy- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

2,147 

1952 

33 

1,162 

$544,000 

$42,000 

> $602, 000 

Vessel  flsheries 

Transporting    ves- 
sels. . 

1,077 

27 

791 
252 

228 

8 

716 

33 

816 

19 

75 
252 

421,000 

7,600 

19,000 
96,000 

42,000 

379,000 
7,600 

Shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries  

19,000 

96,000 

1  Exclusive  of  24  proprietors  not  fishing. 

-Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $69,000. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  description  and  value  of  vessels 
and  boats,  together  with  the  value  of  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, and  the  amount  of  other  capital  employed  for  the 
year  1908: 


CLASS  OF   INVESTMENT. 

EQUIPMENT    AND 

capital:  190S 

OTHER 

Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

Total                         

$2,281,000 

994,000 

973,000 

868,000 

708,000 

160,000 

104,000 

71,000 

33,000 

1,100 

22,000 

17,000 

13,000 

3,300 

3,700 

3,200 

500 

1,500 

118,000 

76,000 

30,000 

12,000 

600 

84,000 

34,000 

49,000 

613,000 

572,000 

243 
227 
132 

6,602 
6,384 

Fishing  

4,235 

Vessels 

Outfit          -             

Sail.             

91 

i,i49 

other 

4 
16 
8 

118 

69 

Vessels                            

Sail                              .           

6 

49 

Outfit 

Other. .                    

2 

1,009 

240 

139 

680 

10 

Steam  and  motor                 

Sail.                 

Row 

Other                         

rmh 

The  investment  in  floating  craft  and  apparatus  of 
capture  was  $1,196,000,  or  52  per  cent  of  the  total 
capital  invested,  as  compared  with  $1,086,000,  or  48 
per  cent,  reported  for  shore  and  accessory  property 
and  cash  capital. 

The  preeminence  of  the  vessel  fisheries  is  indicated 
by  the  high  value  of  the  vessels  engaged  in  fishing 
and  transporting.  Of  the  total  investment  in  1908, 
$994,000  represents  the  investment  in  fisliing  and 
transporting  vessels  with  their  outfit,  and  $118,000 
represents  the  investment  in  boats  with  their  outfit. 


Including  apparatus  of  capture,  the  investments  were 
$1,029,000  for  vessel  fisheries  and  $167,000  for  shore 
and  boat  fisheries. 

The  number  of  vessels  reported  as  engaged  in  fishing 
and  transporting  in  1908  was  243,  which  is  greater 
by  49  than  the  total  number  reported  for  1902.  There 
Avas  a  corresponding  difference  in  the  value  of  vessels 
and  their  outfit  for  the  two  years  named,  the  value  in 
1908  being  greater  by  $367,000  than  in  1902. 

The  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  for  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  exceeded  that  for  the  vessel  fisheries 
in  1908,  although,  as  already  shown,  the  capital  in- 
vested in  floating  craft  and  apparatus  of  capture  to- 
gether was  much  greater  for  the  vessel  fisheries  than 
for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

The  various  kinds  of  apparatus  used  were  distributed 
between  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  as  follows: 


Fyke  nets 

Gill  nets 

Guns 

Pots,  eel  and  lobster 
Potmd  and  trap  nets 
Seines 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 


Total. 


301 
269 

11 

16,726 

109 

76 


Used  In- 


Vessel 
flsheries. 


171 

11 

1,813 

10 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


14,912 
99 
68 


Products,  by  species.: — The  fishery  products  of  the 
state  are  given,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture, 
-in  Table  1,  on  page  94. 

A  comparison  with  the  statistics  for  former  years 
shows,  in  general,  an  increase  in  the  total  of  fishery 
products,  due  chiefly  to  the  growth  of  the  oyster  indus- 
try. Oysters,  menhaden,  and  lobsters,  shown  sepa- 
rately in  the  table  below,  were  the  only  products  with 
a  value  forming  more  than  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  all  fishery  products  in  1908. 


VALUE  OF  PRODUCTS. 

1908 

1905 

IMS 

1898 

1889 

Total 

$2,982,000 

$3,174,000 

$1,799,000 

$1,560,000 

$1,558,000 

Oysters    

2,583,000 
93,000 
84,000 
221,000 

2,810,000 
72,000 
.56,000 
236,000 

1,472,000 

48,000 

41.000 

239,000 

1,248,000 
26,000 
84,000 
200.000 

1,062.000 

101,000 

liObster              . .  . 

83,000 

Another 

312,000 

Products,  hy  class  of  fisheries. — Table  2,  page  95, 
shows  in  detail  the  products  of  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  and  Table  3,  page  96,  those  of  the  vessel 
fisheries,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

The  value  of  the  product  for  1908  of  the  species 
showing  a  value  of  more  than  $10,000  is  given  in  the 
tabular  statement  following  for  all  fisheries,  and  for 
the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries 
separately. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


93 


VALUE  Of  PRODUCTS 

1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$2,982,000 

$2,713,000 

$268,000 

Fish     

246,000 
93,000 
27,000 
21,000 
18,000 
15.000 
12.000 
60,000 
2,583,000 
84,000 
31.000 
20,000 
12,000 

173,000 

91,000 

25,000 

9,600 

73,000 

2,400 

Cod                                 

1.600 

12,000 

18,000 

14,000 

300 

33.000 

2.484,000 

15,000 

31,000 

3,600 

7,000 

200 

12.000 

All  other                                        

27.000 

99,000 

09,000 

22,000 

All  other                

6,000 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  distribution 
of  the  total  value  of  products  according  to  the  chief 
kinds  of  apparatus  used  is  shown  in  the  tabular  state- 
ment below.  Each  kind  of  apparatus  which  is  cred- 
ited with  a  total  catch  exceeding  $10,000  in  value  is 
given  separately. 


APPARATUS. 


Total 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. . 

Seines 

Eel  and  lobster  pots. 
Pound  and  trap  nets 
Harpoons  and  spears 

Lines 

Gill  nets 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$2,982,000 


2,614,000 
116,000 
89,000 
43,000 
43,000 
41.000 
20,000 
16,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$2,713,000 


2,488,000 
94,000 
16,000 
26,000 
42,000 
35,000 
4.300 
9,600 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$268,000 


126,000 

22,000 

73,000 

17,000 

1,300 

6,600 

16,000 

6,000 


Oysters. — From  the  table  giving  the  comparison  of 
the  value  of  products  for  various  years  from  1889 
to  1908  it  is  seen  that  the  high  mark  of  production 
reached  in  1905  was  due  to  the  oyster  industry,  the 
total  value  of  products  other  than  oysters  for  that 
year  being  less  than  for  1908.  In  1905  the  value 
of  the  oyster  product  formed  89  per  cent  of  the  total, 
compared  with  87  per  cent  in  1908,  82  per  cent  in 
1902,  80  per  cent  in  1898,  and  68  per  cent  in  1889. 

The  statistics  of  the  oyster  product  for  1908,  by 
source  of  supply,  are  shown  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


OYSTER  product:  1908. 

KIND  AND  SOURCE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Bushels. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

3,948,000 

100 

$2,583,000 

100 

From  public  areas 

From  private  areas 

217,000 
3,731,000 

5 
95 

103,000 
2,480,000 

4 

96 

Market  oysters 

1,395,000 

35 

1,168,000 

45 

From  public  areas 

6,300 
1,388,000 

2,553,000 

«35 
65 

4,400 
1,163,000 

1,415,000 

(') 

45 

55 

211.000 
2,342,000 

5 
59 

99.000 
1,317,000 

4 

51 

>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


Connecticut  was  the  first  of  the  Northern  states  to 
cultivate  the  oyster  successfully.  In  localities  far- 
ther to  the  south  warm  weather  usually  prevails 
in  the  early  summer  months  when  the  oysters  spawn 
and  a  good  "set"  usually  results,  but  in  Connecticut 
oyster  culture  is  hazardous  because  of  the  uncertainty 
of  the  "set"  of  the  young  oyster,  an  abundant  "set" 
being  the  exception.  Hundreds  of  thousands  of 
bushels  of  shells  have  been  deposited  on  the  private 
grounds  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  suitable  mate- 
rial to  which  diminutive  oysters  may  cling,  but  in 
rather  more  than  half  of  the  years  this  work  has  been 
profitless  because  of  the  destruction  of  the  "set"  by 
adverse  weather  conditions.  The  season  of  1908 
was  considered  a  prosperous  one  by  the  fishermen,  the 
bivalves  being  large  and  of  a  superior  quality  and  the 
demand  being  such  as  to  keep  prices  at  a  remunera- 
tive figure.  The  average  price  of  market  oysters  per 
bushel  was  84  cents  and  of  seed  oysters  55  cents. 

The  returns  show  that  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  product  was  taken  by  Connecticut  fishermen 
from  beds  outside  of  the  state,  mainly  from  the  New 
York  side  of  Long  Island  Sound  and  from  the  waters 
of  Rhode  Island  and  Massachusetts.  A  total  of 
1,270,000  bushels,  valued  at  $1,090,000,  was  so  re- 
ported. It  was  distributed  as  follows:  From  Rhode 
Island  waters,  720,000  bushels,  valued  at  $590,000; 
from  New  York  waters,  511,000  bushels,  valued  at 
$453,000;  and  from  Massachusetts  waters,  40,000 
bushels,  valued  at  $47,000. 

Oyster  fishing  is  conducted  principally  from  vessels. 
In  1908  only  about  4  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total 
catch  was  credited  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
Only  3  per  cent  of  the  product  of  the  vessel  fisheries 
was  taken  from  the  public  areas,  as  compared  with 
about  60  per  cent  in  the  case  of  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries. 

Menhaden. — In  1908  the  menhaden  catch  of  Con- 
necticut ranked  next  to  the  oyster  product  in  value, 
and  was  surpassed  in  value  only  by  the  catches  of 
that  species  in  Virginia,  Delaware,  and  North  Caro- 
lina. 

Lobsters. — The  value  of  the  yield  of  lobsters,  which 
ranked  third  among  the  fishery  products  of  the  state 
in  1908,  was  greater  than  in  any  previous  year  for 
which  data  are  available.  It  was  more  than  double 
the  value  for  1902,  and  slightly  greater  than  the  values 
for  1898  and  1889.  The  quantity  in  1908,  however, 
was  only  661,000  pounds,  as  compared  with  1,501,000 
pounds  in  1889,  which  represents  a  decrease  of  56 
per  cent. 

Whale  and  Tcindred  products. — The  whale  and  oil 
products  reached  higher  figures  in  1908  than  in  any 
previous  year  for  which  a  canvass  was  made  since 
1880,  when  the  value  of  these  products  reported 
amounted  to  $53,000.  The  total  yield  for  1908 
included  49,000  gallons  of  sperm  oil  and  sea-elephant 
oil  and  1,700  pounds  of  whalebone. 


94 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Other  products. — Among  the  minor  products  was 
shad,  the  catch  of  which  increased  steadily  from  1889 
up  to  1905,  when  it  was  reported  as  485,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $38,000.  The  catch  in  1908  was  compara- 
tively small,  amounting  to  only  122,000  pounds, 
valued  at  S18,000.  The  entire  product  of  that  year 
was  taken  from  the  Connecticut  River,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  quantity,  valued  at  $700,  which 
was  caught  in  traps  in  Long  Island  Sound  near  the 
mouth  of  the  river  named. 

Other  fish,  such  as  alewives,  carp,  eels,  perch,  pick- 
erel, striped  bass,  and  suckers,  aggregating  $17,000 
in  value,  were  caught  in  the  Connecticut  River.     The 


total  value  of  the  fish  obtained  from  this  river  was 
$34,000.  The  greater  part  of  the  smelt  were  from  the 
Saugatuck  River. 

Many  fish  that  were  formerly  numerous  in  Connec- 
ticut waters  are  no  longer  abundant.  Less  than 
$700  worth  of  bluefish  were  caught  in  1908,  while  in 
1898  the  value  of  this  product  was  $33,000,  and  it 
ranked  third  in  value  among  the  fishery  products  of 
the  state.  The  value  of  the  halibut  catch,  which 
was  $20,000  in  1889,  fell  to  $600  in  1908.  In  1898 
the  value  of  sea  bass  taken  amounted  to  $12,000, 
compared  with  $5,400  in  1908. 


Table  1  .—CONNECTICUT— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total    

66,942,000 

$2,982,000 

29,398,000 

$116,000 

1,629,000 

$43,000 

1,100,000 

$41,000 

180,000 

$20,000 

112,000 

$5,000 

34,523,000 

$2,756,000 

Fish: 

Alewives. 

1,025,000 
7,900 

102,000 
7,600 

820,000 

111,000 

707,000 

24,000 

179,000 

8,500 

122,000 

28,636,000 

7,600 

2,500 

25,000 

95,000 
61,000 
122,000 
5,500 
10,000 

180,000 

6,500 

66,000 

240,000 

119,000 
4,700 
1,800 
6,000 

661,000 

21,000 

•100,000 

'42,000 

•44,000 

'9,718,000 

'1,478,000 

•16,396,000 
"7,200 

"5,403,000 

"88,000 

"280,000 

"1,400 

1,700 

12,000 

700 

4,100 

600 

27,000 

9,100 

21,000 

900 

2,100 

600 

8,900 

93,000 

400 

200 

800 

8,500 

5.4C0 

18,000 

400 

1,200 

6,800 

800 

3,000 

15,000 

4,600 
100 
100 
300 

84,000 

400 

20,000 

5,500 

4,400 

1,163,000 

99,000 

1,317,000 
200 

5,400 
3,600 
20,000 
6,000 
7,200 

858,000 
1,000 

10,000 
100 

154,000 

600 

102,000 

1,500 

100 

4,100 

4,500 

« 

8,200 
500 

300 

5,800 

600 

Butterfish 

Carp,  German 

7,400 

600 

200 

(') 

12,000 

7,900 

508,000 

400 

500 

15,000 

809,000 

26,000 

Eels 

36,000 
62,000 

2,500 
1,900 

6,000 
66,000 

800 
1,800 

60,000 
200 

Flatfish  and  floun- 

81,000 
24,000 

2,900 
900 

m 

Haddock 

Hake,  silver. 

179,000 

2,100 

Halibut 

8,500 
23,000 

600 
1,500 

Mackerel 

27,000 

28,316,000 

5,400 

1,500 

4,500 

2,700 

92,000 

300 

100 

200 

6,600 
310,000 

300 
900 

66,000 
2,800 

4,300 

(') 

Menhaden 

6,800 
2,200 
1,000 

200 
100 

Perch,  white 

Pickerel 

Pollack 

20,000 

600 

95,000 
1,000 
7,200 

8,500 
100 
900 

58,000 

5,200 

1,100 

Shad 

5,600 
5,500 
8,600 

12,000 

1,800 

42,000 

800 

400 

1,100 

600 

107,000 

16,000 

2,700 

400 

Shiner 

Smelt 

i,5o6 

163.000 

100 

6,000 
300 



5,500 

300 

ptrippH  ha<« , 

200          3.000 

400 
100 

100 

1,400 
23,000 

200 
900 

Suckers 

2,000 

Swordflsh 

240,000 
100 

15,000 

67,000 

2,100 

62,000 
4,700 

2,400 
100 

(') 

Tilefish 

1,500 
2,000 

100 
100 

400 
2,100 

(») 
100 

Another 

900 

(') 
21,000 

100 

^'ioo 

100 

(') 

Lobster. 

661,000 

84,000 

Squid 

'100,000 
'42,000 

« 44,000 

'9,718,000 

8  1,478,000 

•16,396,000 
l»  7,200 

"6.403,000 

'»88,000 

"280,000 

"1,400 

1,700 

20,000 
5,500 

4,400 

1.103,000 

99,000 

1,317,000 
200 

Oysters,   market,   from 
public  areas 

Oysters,    market,  from 
private  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pub- 
lic areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  prl- 

Mussels 

Mussel  shells 

6,400 
3,600 

Oil,  sea-elephant 

Oil,  whale  and  sperm « 

20  000 

Fnr-spal  qHnq „  .  . 

1 

6,000 
7,200 

Whalebone 

1 

1 

<  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  33,189,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,014,000;  pots,  eel  and  lobster,  712,000  pounds,  valued  at  $89,000;  har- 
poons, spears,  etc.,  533,000  pounds,  valued  at  $43,000;  firearms,  88,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,000;  and  minor  apparatus,  1,400  pounds,  valued  at  $0,000. 

"  Le.ss  than  $100.  •  6,,300  bushels.  »  2,342,000  bushels.  ■'  12,000  gallons. 

»  Less  than  100  pounds.  '  1,388,000  bushels.  '«  700  bushels.  "  37,000  gallons. 

<  13,000  bushels.  •  211,000  bushels.  "  90,000  bushels.  "200  skins. 
» 4,200  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2.— CONNECTICUT— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


06 


PEODUCT  CAUQHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

0111  nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

9,162.000 

J2fi8,000 

1,107,000 

»22,000 

918,000 

117,000 

115,000 

$16,000 

163,000 

}6,600 

112,000 

$5,000 

0,748,000 

$201,000 

Fish: 

992,000 

7,200 

31,000 

7,000 

42,000 

110,000 

404,000 

49,000 

8,300 

374,000 

7,600 
2,500 
15,000 
3,900 
9,000 

122,000 
5,500 
10,000 

106.000 
4,700 

66,000 
2,800 

77,000 
1,800 
5,000 

<      544,000 

15,000 

<  84, 000 

Ml, 000 

"36,000 

'287,000 

'651,000 

> 179,000 

10  600 
"4,863,000 

12,000 
600 

1,300 
600 

1,500 

9,000 

12,000 

500 

600 

2,400 

400 
200 
400 
100 
600 

18,000 

400 

1,200 

3,900 

700 

3,000 
200 

2,800 
100 
300 

69,000 

300 

17,000 

5,400 

3,400 
38,000 
43,000 
15,000 

m 

4,700 

858,000 
300 

10,000 

120,000 

600 

31,000 

1,200 

100 

1,300 

4,500 

m 

8,200 
500 

300 

Bluefish 

5,800 

600 

Carp,  German 

Cod 

7,400 

600 

200 

m 

5,800 

6,700 

254,000 

49,000 

2,600 

306,000 

200 

400 

7,000 
500 
100 
900 

37,000 

1,400 

Eels 

36,000 
62,000 

2,500 
1,900 

6,600 
66,000 

800 
1,800 

60,000 
200 

6,300 

Flatfish  and  floun- 

32,000 

1,000 

(1) 

6,700 

500 

58,000 

5,400 
1,800 

1,400 

300 
100 

2,800 

(») 

6,800 

2,200 
1,000 

200 
100 

Pickerel 

Pollack. 

15,000 

400 

3,900 
1,000 

7,200 

100 
100 

900 

8,000 

500 

Shad 

5,600 

5,500 

8,600 

12,000 

1,800 

42,000 

800 
400 
1,100 
600 
200 

2,000 

107,000 

16,000 

2,700 

400 

Shiner 

Smelt 

1,500 

89,000 

1,200 

100 

3,100 

200 



6,800 

300 

400 
100 

100 

1,400 
23,000 

200 
900 

Swordfish 

2,800 

200 

22,000 

800 

64,000 

2,100 

1,500 
2,000 

100 
100 

400 
2,100 

100 

All  other 

900 
15,000 

100 
300 

100 

m 

544,000 

69,000 

< 84,000 
»  41,000 

•36,000 

'287,000 

'651,000 

•179,000 

10  500 
"4,863,000 

17,000 

5,400 

Oysters,    market,    from 

3,400 

Oysters,   market,   from 

38,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pub- 

43,000 

Oysters,  seed,  Irompri- 

15,000 

(') 

4,700 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  6,141,000  pounds,  valued  at  $126,000;  pots,  593,000  pounds,  valued  at  $73,000;  harpoons,  spears,  etc., 
14,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,300. 

»  Less  than  $100.  <  11 ,000  bushels.  •  5,100  bushels.  "  93,000  bushels.  »  100  bushels. 

•  Less  than  100  pounds.  '  4,100  bushels.  '  41,000  bushels  •  26,000  bushels.  "  81,000  bushels. 


96 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  3.— CONNECTICUT— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SFXCIEa. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

57, 780, 000 

S2. 713. 000 

28,290,000 

$94,000 

937,000 

$35,000 

711,000 

$26,000     27,841,000 

$2,  .559, 000 

Fish: 

34,000 

71,000 

778, 000 

303,000 

24,000 

130,000 

8,500 

114,000 

28,262,000 

10,000 

91,000 

62,000 

74,000 

1,800 

237,000 

42,000 

4,700 

1,900 

117,000 

6,000 

•16,000 

»800 

»8,400 

•9,431,000 

'827,000 

816,217,000 

»6,700 

i»  540, 000 

1188,000 

"280,000 

"1,400 

1,700 

300 

2,800 

25,000 

9,600 

900 

1,600 
COO 

8,200 

91,000 

400 

8,400 

4,800 

2,900 

100 

14,000 

1,700 

100 

100 

15,000 

100 

3,500 

100 

1,000 

1,125,000 

56,000 

1,302,000 

200 

600 

3,600 

20,000 

6,000 

7,200 

34,000 

71,000 

6,000 

255,000 

300 
2,800 

200 
7,700 

Butterflsh 

Cod 

772.000 
48.000 
24,000 

26,000 

2,000 

900 

Flatfish  and  flnnnders 

Haddock 

Hake,  silver 

130,000 

1,600 

Halibut 

8,500 
17,000 

600 
1,000 

27.000 

28,258,000 

4,500 

2,700 

91,000 

200 

4,000 
4,000 

200 

66,000 

4,300 

Menhaden 

Pollack 

5,500 

200 

Scup 

91,000 

8,400 

60,000 

4,700 

Squeteague 

74.000 
1,800 

2.900 
100 

Swordfl.sh 

237,000 
100 

14,000 
(') 

Tautog 

7,500 
4,700 

300 
100 

34,000 

1,400 

Tilefish 

Another 

700 

100 

1,200 

100 

Lobster. 

117.000 

15,000 

6,000 

100 

Clams,  hard 

3  16,000 
<800 

'■8,400 

•9,431,000 

'827,000 

•16,217,000 

•6,700 

10  540,000 

11  88,000 

"280,000 

"1,400 

1,700 

3,500 
100 

Clams,  sott 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 

1  000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas 

1,126,000 

56,000 

1,302,000 

200 

600 

3,000 

Oil,  whale  and  sperm 

20,000 
6,000 
7  200 

Fur-seal  skins 

Whalebone 

1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  27,048,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,488,000;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  519,000  pounds,  valued  at  $42,000;  pots, 
119,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  gill  nets,  66,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,300;  firearms,  88,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,600;  and  minor  apparatus,  1,400  pounds,  valued  at  $6,000. 
>  Less  than  $100.  s  i,200  bushels.  »  2.317,000  bushels.  u  12,000  gallons. 

•  2.000  bushels.  •  1,347,000  bushels.  » 700  bushels.  i'  37,000  gallons. 

•  100  bushels.  '  118,000  bushels.  i»  9,000  bushels.  "  200  skins. 


DELAWARE. 

Delaware,  though  ranking  twenty-first  in  the  total 
value  of  its  fishery  products,  was  second  in  the  men- 
haden fisheries.  Judged  by  value  of  products,  the 
oyster  industry  led  and  the  menhaden  fisheries  were  a 
close  second,  these  two  industries  combined  being 
credited  with  59  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  the  fishery 
products  of  the  state.  The  chief  fishing  grounds  of 
Delaware  are  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  Delaware  Bay  and 
Delaware  River,  Rehoboth  Bay,  Indian  River,  and 
Mispillion  and  Broad  Kiln  Creeks;  products  are  also 
reported  from  a  number  of  minor  waters,  such  as 
Herring  Creek,  Pepper  Creek,  Nanticoke  River,  and 
others.  A  general  summary  of  the  industry  for  1908 
is  given  in  the  following  statement : 

Number  of  persons  employed 1,  756 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $372, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 63, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property 9, 500 

Value  of  products 541, 000 


Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  principal  statistics  of  the 
fisheries  of  Delaware  for  1908,  in  comparison  with 
those  reported  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  1897  and 
1904: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1,744 
1,495 
2,008 

$435,000 
104,000 
123,000 

$372,000 
69,000 
77,000 

$63,000 
36,000 
46,000 

170,769,000 
5,608,000 
8,648,000 

$541,000 

1904.. 

260,000 
252,000 

1897 

'Includes  menhaden  (59,815,000  pounds,  valued  at  $152,000).  This  fish  was 
reported  separately  in  1904  and  in  1897. 

Persons  employed. — ^The  report  of  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  for  the  year  1904  showed  1,495  persons  em- 
ployed in  the  fisheries  of  Delaware,  not  including 
shoresmen.  The  distribution  of  the  persons  employed 
in  1908  was  as  follows: 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


97 


PERSONS  employed:  190S. 

Number. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent flsli- 
ermen. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Wages. 

Total    .                                         .  . 

1,756 

'853 

903 

s»146,000 

Vessel  fisheries                                       

488 

10 

1,246 

12 

1 

804 

442 
7 

442 
12 

105,000 
700 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

39,000 

1,000 

'  E.xelusive  of  eight  proprietors  not  fishing. 

» Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  515,000. 

Over  70  per  cent  of  the  total  number  were  employed 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  total  number  were  wage-earners,  independ- 
ent fishermen  being  relatively  not  so  numerous  in 
this  state  as  in  the  South  Atlantic  and  the  Gulf  states. 
Although  the  number  of  persons  fishing  on  their  own 
account  and  not  employing  any  wage-earners  is  not 
ascertainable,  yet  it  is  apparent  that  of  the  804 
proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  engaged  in  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  one-half  or  more  were  independent 
fishermen.  Of  the  442  wage-earners  in  the  vessel 
fisheries,  266,  or  more  than  one-half,  were  employed  in 
the  menhaden  fisheries. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  shows  the  capital  invested  in  the  industry 
and  its  distribution,  by  class  of  investment,  together 
with  the  number  and  tonnage  of  the  vessels  and  the 
number  of  the  boats: 


CLASS  or  INVESTMENT. 

EQDIPMENT  AND  OTHEE 
capital:  1908. 

Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

Total 

$444,000 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

334,000 

329,000 

277,000 

233.000 

44.000 

52,000 

42,000 

10,000 

5.400 

4,900 

400 

38,000 

25,000 

3,  .500 

9,500 

63,000 

24,000 

38,000 

9,500 

65 
61 
12 

1  629 

Fishing 

Steam  and  motor. 

1  141 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

49 

Outfit 

4 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Boats 

792 

116 

62 

614 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Vessel  fisheries                   

Shore  and  l>oat  fisheries 

More  than  one-half  of  the  capital  was  invested  in 
steam  vessels.  Of  the  12  reported,  11,  with  a  total 
tonnage  of  1,136,  were  employed  in  menhaden  fish- 
eries, and  1,  of  5  tons,  in  oyster  dredging. 

The  total  investment  in  vessels,  both  fisliiug  and 
transporting,  aggregated  .f334,000,  the  investment  in 
boats  $38,000,  and  the  investment  in  apparatus  of 
capture  $63,000.  Of  the  latter,  $24,000  pertained  to 
vessel  fisheries  and  $38,000  to  shor^  and  boat  fisheries. 
76786°— 11 7 


The  investment  in  fishing  and  transporting  vessels  and 
in  apparatus  of  capture  for  vessels  aggregated  $358,000, 
of  wliich  93  per  cent  represents  the  value  of  vessels  and 
7  per  cent  that  of  apparatus  of  capture.  In  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  the  investment  in  boats  and  apparatus 
of  capture  combined  was  $77,000,  an  amount  which  was 
about  equally  divided.  The  number  of  each  kind  of 
apparatus  used  was  as  follows: 


Muskrat  traps 16, 461 

Pound  nets 9 

Seines 261 

Spears 113 

Stop  nets 15 

Turtle  nets 13 


Bow  nets 4 

Cast  neta 5 

Dipnefa 168 

Eel  and  lobster  pots 3, 167 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 1, 806 

Gill  nets 865 

All  of  the  apparatus  enumerated  above,  except  1  gill 
net  and  23  seines,  was  used  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  99,  gives  the 
weight  and  value  of  the  fishery  product  of  the  state, 
distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

The  product  of  the  menhaden  fisheries  was  the  most 
important,  if  measured  by  market  values,  for,  although 
the  total  value  of  the  oyster  product  was  greater,  one- 
third  of  the  latter  represented  seed  oysters  and  but 
two-thirds  market  oysters.  In  quantity  the  men- 
haden catch  largely  exceeded  that  of  all  other  fishery 
products,  amounting  in  net  weight  to  nearly  60,000,000 
pounds,  compared  with  about  11,000,000  pounds  for 
all  other  fishery  products.  Even  if  the  oyster  catch  is 
considered  on  the  basis  of  gross  weight  at  an  average 
of  80  pounds  per  bushel,  instead  of  on  the  basis  of  con- 
tained meat,  the  menhaden  catch  is  still  in  excess  of 
all  other  products  in  the  ratio  of  approximately  30,000 
net  tons  to  19,000  net  tons. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — Table  2,  on  page  99, 
gives  the  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries,  distributed 
according  to  apparatus  of  capture.  The  vessel  fishery 
products  were  limited  practically  to  menhaden  and 
oysters.  With  the  exception  of  the  products  of  the 
menhaden  and  oyster  fisheries  which  are  shown  in 
Table  2,  and  the  small  amount  of  shad  and  squeteague 
shown  in  the  same  table,  all  the  products  given  in 
Table  1,  on  page  99,  were  reported  by  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries.  Of  these  species,  the  portions  belong- 
ing to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  were  as  follows: 
Menhaden,  54,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,400;  shad, 
868,000  pounds,  valued  at  $68,000;  squeteague, 
2,587,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  market  oysters 
from  pubUc  areas,  159,000  pounds  (representing 
23,000  bushels),  valued  at  $8,400;  market  oysters 
from  private  areas,  28,000  pounds  (representing  4,000 
bushels),  valued  at  $1,000;  and  seed  oysters  from  pub- 
lic areas,  338,000  pounds  (representing  48,000  bushels), 
valued  at  $12,000.  The  total  products  of  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  in  1908  were  9,092,000  pounds, 
having  a  value  of  $244,000.  Of  these  products, 
4,327,000  pounds,  having  a  value  of  $69,000,  were 
caught  with  seines;  1,073,000  pounds,  having  a  value  of 


98 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


$85,000,  with  gill  nets;  and  531,000  pounds,  having  a 
value  of  $23,000,  with  dredges  and  tongs,  and  the  re- 
mainder with  the  other  forms  of  apparatus  as  specified 
in  Table  1 ,  page  99.  The  chief  products  of  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  were  in  the  order  of  value:  shad, 
$68,000;  squeteague,  $29,000;  muskrats  and  muskrat 
skms,  $24,000;  oysters,  $21,000;  eels,  $15,000;  and 
white  perch,  $14,000. 

The  distribution  of  the  catch  by  chief  products  and 
by  class  of  fisheries  was  as  follows: 


Total 

Fish 

Menhaden 

Shad 

Squeteague 

Eels 

Perch,  white 

Alewives 

Catfish 

Striped  baas 

Carp,  German 

Another 

Oysters  and  clams 

Crabs  and  lobster 

Turtles  and  terrapin 

Muskrats  and  muskrat  skins 
Frogs 


VALtJE  OP  PEODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


S541,000 


328,000 

152,000 

08,000 

29,000 

15,000 

14,000 

8,400 

7,300 

7,300 

6,700 

20,000 

170.000 

14,000 

4,500 

24,000 

700 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


J297,000 


150,000 

149,000 

100 

200 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$244,000 


179,000 

2.400 

68,000 

29,000 

15,000 

14,000 

8,400 

7,300 

7,300 

6,700 

20,000 

2.3,000 

14,000 

4,600 

24.000 

700 


Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  total  value 
of  the  fishery  products  was  distributed  according  to 
apparatus  of  capture  as  follows : 


END  OF  APPAEATUS. 


Total 

!S 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

GUI  nets 

Muskrat  traps 

Eel  and  lobster  pots 

Dip  nets 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Lmes 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


8541,000 


219,000 

170,000 

85,000 

24,000 

14,000 

8,400 

7,300 

6.100 

8,400 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$297,000 


150.000 

147,000 

100 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$244,000 


69.000 
23.000 
85,000 
24,000 
14,000 
8,400 
7,300 
6,100 
8,400 


The  catch  in  seines  led  in  value  and  constituted 
nine-tenths  of  all  products  in  quantity.  The  chief 
species  caught  in  this  way  were  menhaden  and  sque- 
teague. The  products  taken  by  dredges  and  tongs 
consisted  almost  entirely  of  oysters.  Shad,  sturgeon, 
and  striped  bass  were  the  leading  species  taken  with 
gill  nets ;  and  catfish  and  carp  the  leading  species  taken 
with  fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Oysters. — The  oyster  yield  was  348,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $169,000,  and  contributed  31  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  all  products.  Of  the  total  quantity, 
155,000  bushels  were  market  oysters,  chiefly  from  pri- 
vate areas,  and  193,000  bushels  seed  oysters,  almost 
entirely  from  public  areas.  The  distribution  of  the 
oyster  product  is  shown  by  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


OYSTER  product:  1908. 


KIND  ANT)  SOURCE 


Quantity 
(bushels). 


Total I  348,000 

From  public  areas !  211. 000 

From  private  areas 136,000 

Market  oysters '  155,000 

From  public  areas 25 .  000 

From  private  areas 129,000 

i 

Seed  oysters '  193, 000 

From  public  areas ige,  000 

From  private  areas 7,000 


Value. 


$169,000 


64,000 
105,000 


112.000 


10.000 
102,000 


53.000 
3,500 


Oysters  from  private  areas  averaged  much  higher 
in  value  than  those  from  public  areas,  the  market 
oysters  from  private  areas  having  an  average  value  of 
79  cents  per  bushel,  compared  with  40  cents  for  those 
from  pubHc  areas.  Of  the  market  oysters,  83  per 
cent,  in  quantity,  were  from  private  areas,  while  96 
per  cent  of  the  seed  oysters  were  from  public  areas 
and  but  4  per  cent  from  private  areas. 

Other  shellfish. — The  clam  product  consisted  of  900 
bushels  of  hard  clams,  of  a  value  of  $1,300,  while  the 
lobster  product,  likewise  small,  amounted  to  5,500 
pounds,  valued  at  $800.  The  crab  catch,  it  should  be 
noted,  included  a  large  quantity  of  king  or  horseshoe 
crabs,  which  are  used  chiefly  as  fertilizers.  The  food 
crabs  comprised  soft-shell  crabs,  valued  at  $8,400,  and 
hard-shell  crabs,  valued  at  $600. 

Squeteague  and  shad. — The  squeteague,  or  sea  trout, 
is  the  most  abundant  of  the  food  fishes,  and  in  quantity 
the  catch  formed  nearly  one-half  of  them.  In  value, 
however,  it  was  greatly  exceeded  by  shad,  which  rep- 
resented nearly  two-fifths  of  the  value  of  all  food-fish 
products,  although  only  one-eighth  of  their  quantity. 
The  bulk  of  the  squeteague  catch  was  made  with  seines 
and  the  bulk  of  the  shad  catch  with  gill  nets. 

MusTcrats. — The  muskrat  industry  was  important, 
inasmuch  as  it  not  only  contributed  products  of  a 
considerable  amount  but  furnished  employment,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  to  a  large  number  of  men.  The  ani- 
mal is  trapped  chiefly  for  its  skin.  The  meat,  however, 
is  used  to  a  considerable  extent,  the  sale  of  110,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $3,800,  being  reported  in  1908.  The 
value  of  this  meat  has  been  included  in  the  sum  of 
$24,000  shown  in  the  tables  as  the  value  of  muskrat 
skins.  The  method  of  reporting  muskrats  varied 
greatly.  In  most  cases  the  number  or  weight  of  the 
skins  was  reported  and  their  value,  regardless  of 
whether  they  were  sold  alone  and  the  carcasses  dis- 
carded, or  the  animals  were  sold  entire,  or  the  skins 
and  carcasses  were  marketed  separately.  Hence  for 
the  purpose  of  tabulation  the  total  value  in  the  gen- 
eral tables  has  been  credited  to  the  skins.  The  average 
value  of  a  muskrat  carcass  was  5  cents  and  of  a  skin 
from  25  to  30  cents. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— DELAWARE— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


99 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUaHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Seines. 

GiU  nets. 

^y'<«^«^'> '^"OP              Lines. 

Pound  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus." 

Quantity 

(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

70,769,000 

«541,000 

64,091,000 

$219,000 

1.076,000 

»85,000 

165,000 

17,300 

206.000 

$6,100 

11,000 

$400 

5,220,000 

$224,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

794,000 

2,100 

133. 0I» 

151.000 

7,000 

79,000 

202,000 

17,01X1 

1,800 

59,815,000 

27,000 

173,000 

18,000 

11,000 

870,000 

15.000 

2,690,000 

63,000 

31,000 

3,100 

9,900 

55,000 

5,300 

1,900 

57,000 

142,000 

2,980,000 

5.500 
64,000 

2,900 
'6,900 

•177,000 

"906,000 

•1,303,000 

'49.000 
"22.000 

8.400 
200 

6,  roil 

7,3i:0 
400 

2,900 

16.000 

1,200 

■») 

152,000 

1,000 

14.000 

1,700 

1.100 

68.000 

1,300 
29,000 

7,  .300 
3,200 

3,900 
300 

2,800 
100 

700 

600 

8,400 

4,300 

800 
2,600 
1,900 
1,300 

10,000 

102,000 

.63,000 

3., 100 
24,000 

706,000 

700 

84,000 

56,000 

7,  .300 

100 

4,200 

2.900 

59,000 

300 

26,000 

4,800 

800 
(') 

1,300 
200 

25,000 

400 

21,000 

81,000 

200 
(') 

1,100 
3,800 

4,500 

(') 

700 

100 

1,700 
5,000 

100 

Catfish 

1.900 
7,000 

15,000 

100 
400 

700 

1,600 

100 

300 

Cod 

66,000 

23.000 

11.000 

l.SflO 

59,816,000 

17,000 
138,000 
17,000 
8,200 
10,000 

6,500 

2,407,000 

23,000 

1.700 

1,000 

800 

200 

162,000 

600 

11.000 

1,800 

800 

700 

400 
27,000 
3,000 

7,900 

400 

Eels 

7,600 

600 

100 

(») 

171,000 

13,000 

6,000 

400 

Mullet 

6.700 
24,000 

300 
2,000 

3,400 

6,200 

600 

400 

200 
50O 
(») 

2,500 

200 

3,000 

200 

Pike  and  pickerel 

Shad 

300 
859,000 

9,400 

5,900 

29,000 

31,000 

3,100 
300 

m 

67,000 

900 

300 

4,200 

3,200 

3,900 
(>) 

2,800 

300 

Spot 

Squeteaguc.or  sea  trout 

1,000 
300 

100 

m 

114,000 
100 

1,300 

1,600 

100 

6,600 

200 

2,500 

100 

500 

55,000 

300 

(•) 

2,800 
(') 

All  other 

4,800 

100 

200 

(') 

1,900 

700 

5.6,666 

1,000 

580,000 

600 
(») 
700 

500 
700 

(•) 

1,000 

(') 

140,000 
2,400,000 

5,500 
29,000 

2,700 
"6,900 

'177,000 

"905,000 

"1,303,000 

'49,000 
"22,000 

8,400 

Crabs,  king 

3,600 

800 

Turtles 

4,700 
200 

200 
200 

15,000 

700 

5,200 

200 

1,400 

1,700 

1,300 

Oysters,  market,  from  pub- 

10,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  pri- 

102,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 

53,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 

3,500 

24,000 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  2.441,000  pounds,  valued  at  $170,000;  muskrat  traps,  22,000  pounds,  valued  at  $24,000;  eel  and  lobster 
pots,  174,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000;  dip  nets,  140,000  poimds,  valued  at  $8,400;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  23,000  pounds,  valued  at  S2,0(X1;  stop  nets,  2,,300  pounds,  valued  at 
$1,600:  turtle  traps,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  bow  and  ca.st  nets,  6,700  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  and  minor  apparatus,  2,400,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,600. 

!  Less  than  $100.  'QOObusheis.  '26,000  bushels.  "  129,000  bushels.  "186,000  bushels.  '  7,000  bushels.  "  76,000  skins. 

Table  2.— DELAWARE— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PEOI>UCT  CAUGHT   IIY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

Gill  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total                                       

61.677,000 

$297,000 

59.765.000 

$150,000 

1,910,000 

$147,000 

1,500 

$100 

Fish: 

,69,762,000 

1,600 

3,000 

1    18,000 

'877,000 

"966,000 

'49,000 

149,000 

100 

200 

2,000 

101,000 

4I,(X)0 

3,500 

59,702,000 

149,000 

Shad                                           

i,566 

100 

3,000 

200 

118,000 
» 877, 000 
'966,000 

'49,000 

2,000 

101,000 

41,000 

3,500 

Oysters  seed  from  private  areas 

'  2,600  bushels. 


'126,000  bushels. 


"138,000  bushels. 


'7,000  bushels. 


100 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


FLORIDA. 

During  the  last  three  decades  the  fisheries  of  Florida 
have  grown  steadily  in  the  value  of  their  products, 
and  in  1908  the  state  held  fifth  rank  in  this  respect. 
It  has  a  natural  monopoly  of  the  sponge  fisheries  of 
the  United  States,  conlJributed  two-thirds,  in  value, 
of  the  mullet  product,  and  was  surpassed  in  the  value 
of  its  shad  product  only  by  Virginia  and  North  Carolina. 

Florida  has  the  longest  coast  line,  of  any  state  in  the 
Union,  measuring  about  450  miles  on  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  and  675  miles  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The 
Atlantic  coast  is  remarkably  free  from  indentation, 
but  is  bordered  throughout  almost  its  entire  length 
by  sand  reefs  that  inclose  long  lagoons,  sounds,  and 
bays  (often  misnamed  rivers),  in  which  fish  abound. 
The  principal  fishing  grounds  on  this  coast  are  the 
following  waters,  in  geograpliical  order:  St.  Marys, 
St.  Johns,  and  Matanzas  Rivers,  Lake  George,  Mos- 
quito Lagoon,  Indian  River,  Biscayne  Bay,  St.  Lucie 
River,  and  Lake  Worth. 

The  Gulf  coast,  like  the  Atlantic  coast,  is  low,  but  it 
is  much  less  regular  and  is  intersected  by  the  estuaries 
of  a  number  of  rivers  and  by  numerous  bays,  sounds, 
and  lagoons.  Following  the  indentations,  the  western 
coast  line  of  Florida  measures  approximately  2,810 
miles.  Nearly  all  of  the  shore  fishing  on  this  coast, 
as  along  the  eastern  coast,  is  pursued  in  the  shallow 
waters  shut  in  from  the  open  sea  by  keys  and  lowland 
spits.  The  principal  indentations  along  the  Gulf  coast 
where  commercial  fishing  is  carried  on  are  the  follow- 
ing: The  bays  known  as  Pensacola,  Escambia,  Choo- 
tawhatchee,  St.  Andrews,  and  St.  Joseph,  St.  Vincent 
Sound,  Apalachicola  Bay,  St.  George's  Sound,  Wac- 
cassassee,  Clearwater,  Tampa,  Hillsboro,  and  Sarasota 
Bays,  Charlotte  Harbor,  and  Gasparilla  and  San 
Carlos  Bays.  Among  the  rivers  the  Apalachicola, 
Withlacoochee,  Homosassa,  Anclote,  and  Manatee  are 
the  principal  fishing  grounds. 

The  following  table  presents  a  general  summary  of 


the  statistics  of  the  fishing  industry  of  the  state  for 
1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 9,  212 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $1,  421,  000 

Apparatus  of  capture 326, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 668, 000 

Value  of  products 3,  389,  000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — If  the  figures 
are  compared  with  those  reported  for  former  years, 
a  steady  increase  in  the  importance  of  the  fishing 
industry  of  the  state  is  observed.  A  comparison  with 
such  preceding  years  for  which  figures  are  available 
is  given  below,  the  number  of  shoresmen  and  tlie  invest- 
ment in  shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash  capital 
being  excluded : 


Per- 
sons em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

DISTRICT  XSD 
YEAE. 

Total. 

Veasels 
and  boats, 
inchiding 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity, 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total: 
1908... 
1902... 
1897... 
1890... 

9,006 
7,840 
5,658 
4,776 

Jl, 747, 000 

1,298,000 

708,000 

769,000 

$1,421,000 

1,120,000 

620,000 

682,000 

$,326,000 
172,000 
88,000 
87,000 

74.087.000 
67,704,000 
34,138,000 
34,882,000 

$3,389,000 
1,940,000 
1,081,000 
1,284,000 

Gull  of  Mexico 
district: 
1908 

5.850 

5.579 

4.667 

<3,602 

3,156 

2,267 

991 

1,174 

1,338,000 

1,139,000 

651,000 

699,000 

409,000 
159,000 
67,000 
70,000 

1,143,000 

1,044,000 

596.000 

650,000 

278,000 
82,000 
24,000 
32,000 

195,000 
95,000 
54,000 
60,000 

131,000 
77,000 
33,000 
38,000 

37,566,000 
48.120.000 
28,255,000 
27,419,000 

36,521,000 
19,  ,584, 000 
6,883,000 
7,462,000 

1902 

1  462  000 

1897 

1890 

l,(Xi4,000 

1,269,000 
478,000 
136,000 
220,000 

Atlantic  Oceau 
district: 
1908 

1902 

1897 

1890 

1  Alligator  hunters  not  Included. 

Persons  employrd. — The  total  number  of  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  in  1908  was 
9,212,  or,  exclusive  of  shoresmen,  9,006. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  distri- 
bution of  the  persons  employed,  as  reported  at  the 
census  of  1908.' 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTMCT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Salaried 

em- 
ployees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total 

9,212 

■3,288 

41 

5,883 

$1,414,000 

$43,000 

'$1,371,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

2,106 
165 

6,735 
206 

74 

11 

3,203 

17 
16 
8 

2,015 
138 

3,524 
206 

540,000 
61,000 

741,000 
72,000 

23,000 
14,000 
5,700 

517,000 
46,000 

736,000 
72,000 

Transporting  vessels 

Shoresmen 

Gulf  of  Mexico  district 

6',  016 

990                41 

4,985 

1,234,000 

43,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

1,961 
147 

3,742 
166 

3,190 

00 

10 

920 

17 
16 
S 

1,884 
121 

2,814 
166 

898 

627,000 
68,000 

577,000 
72,000 

180,000 

23,000 
14,000 
6,700 

504,000 

44,000 

672,000 

Transporting  vessels 

Atlantic  coast  district 

2,298 

180,000 

145 

18 

2,993 

40 

14 

1 

2,283 

131 
17 

710 
40 

13,000 

2,600 

164,000 

300 

13,000 

2,600 

164,000 

300 

Transporting  vessels 

Shoresmen 

i£zclusive  of  273  proprietors  not  fishing. 


>  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $270,000. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


101 


The  Gulf  coast  fisheries  employed  nearly  two-thirds 
of  all  the  fishermen  of  the  state  and  93  per  cent  of 
those  engaged  in  the  vessel  fisheries. 

The  fishermen  engaged  in  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries of  the  Atlantic  coast  were  to  a  large  extent  inde- 
pendent fishermen,  only  710  wage-earners  being 
employed  by  the  2,283  persons  classed  as  proprietors 
and  independent  fishermen  in  the  returns  of  these 
fisheries.  On  the  other  hand,  a  large  majority  of  the 
fishermen  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of 
the  Gulf  were  wage-earners.  Of  those  engaged  in  the 
Atlantic  coast  fisheries,  nearly  94  per  cent  were  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  while  only  62  per  cent  of 
those  engaged  in  the  Gulf  fisheries  belonged  to  this 
class. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  table 
gives  the  value  of  the  equipment  in  vessels,  boats,  and 
apparatus  of  capture  and  the  amount  of  other  capital 
employed : 


VALUE  or  EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER 
CAPITAL:   1908. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Atlantic 

coast 
dUtrict. 

Total..              

$2,416,000 

$1,884,000 

$531,000 

840,000 

080,000 

29,0(X) 

25,000 

4,300 

051,000 

487.000 

103.000 

100,000 

78,000 

00,000 

18,000 

88,000 

47,000 

41, (XX) 

575,000 

280.  (XX) 

192.000 

79,000 

22,000 

1.300 

320,000 

04,000 

202,000 

409,000 

200,000 

798,000 

015,000 

9,900 

9,100 

800 

035,000 

472,000 

103,000 

154.000 

09,000 

54,000 

10,000 

84,000 

44,000 

41,000 

345,000 

112, 0(X) 

100,000 

41,000 

22,000 

48,000 

Fishing 

30,000 

19,000 

Vessels.                       .             ... 

10.000 

Outfit 

3,400 

SaQ 

17,000 

15,000 

Outfit 

1,700 

12,000 
8,000 

Steam  and  motor. . 

0,000 

OutQt 

2,000 

Sail 

3,800 

3.300 

Outfit 

500 

Boats 

230,000 

.mp!l.'n  ami  T7int/ir 

107. 000 

Sail 

20.000 

Row 

35,000 

Other...  . 

i.366 

195,000 
59,000 
130,000 
347,000 
200,000 

131,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

5.300 

120, 000 

shore  and  accessory  property. . 

122,000 
200 

Cash 

The  following  table  gives  the  statistics  in  respect  to 
the  number  and  tonnage  of  the  vessels  and  the  number 
of  the  boats  used  in  the  fisheries: 


CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 


Vessels,  number 

Fishing,  numi)er 

Steam  and  motor — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Sail-- 

Number 

Tonnage 

Transporting,  number. 
Steam  and  motor- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Sail— 

Number 

Tonnage 

Boats,  number; 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Diving 

other 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 


Total. 


327 
250 

12 
.      125 

238 

4,341 

77 

27 
316 

50 

518 

919 
1,377 
3,2SS 

112 
6 


Oulf  of 
Mexico 

district. 


221 

6 
67 

215 

4,049 

67 

22 
273 

45 

465 

282 

1,005 

1,408 

112 


Atlantic 

coast 
district. 


39 
29 

0 
58 

23 
292 
10 

5 
43 

5 
53 

637 

312 

1,820 


The  total  investment  was  .12,416,000,  of  which 
$1,884,000,  or  78  per  cent,  was  reported  from  the 
Gulf  coast,  and  $531,000,  or  22  per  cent,  from  the 
Atlantic  coast.  Not  including  the  value  of  shore  and 
accessory  property  and  cash  capital,  the  amount 
invested  in  the  fishing  industry  of  the  state  -was 
$1,747,000,  compared  with  an  investment  of  $1,298,000 
reported  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  in  1902.  The 
investment  in  fishing  and  transporting  vessels  was 
$846,000  and  in  boats  $575,000,  making  a  total  invest- 
ment in  floating  craft  of  $1,421,000.  Of  this  amount, 
$1,143,000,  or  80  per  cent,  pertained  to  the  Gulf 
fisheries. 

The  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  of  Florida  largely  exceeded  that  for 
the  vessel  fisheries.  The  total  investment  in  floating 
craft  was,  however,  greater  for  the  vessel  fisheries. 
The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture employed  is  shown  for  each  district  and  for  each 
class  of  fisheries  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


Cast  nets 

Pip  nets 

Fyli-enets 

Gill  nets 

Guns 

Pots,  eel 

Pound  nets... 

Seines 

Shrimp  nets . . 

Spears 

Trammel  nets 
Traps,  fish... 
Traps,  otter. . 
Turtle  nets. . . 


APPARATUS  OF  capture:  1908. 


402 

70 

10 

3,640 

364 

3 

20 

702 

3 

432 

140 

700 

6,962 

38 


Distributed  by 
districts. 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 


65 

20 

JO 

2,143 

135 

3 

26 

236 

3 

105 

140 

300 

3,712 

38 


Atlantic 

coast 
district. 


347 
60 


1,497 
229 


466 
'267' 


400 
2,250 


Distributed  by 
class  of  flsherii. 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


402 

70 

10 

3,569 

363 

3 

26 

692 

8 

422 

140 

700 

6,962 

38 


Products,  hy  species. — The  fishery  products  of  the 
state,  distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, are  given  in  Table  1,  on  page  106. 

In  1908  the  mullet  fishery  led  in  value  of  catch  and 
was  followed  by  the  sponge  fishery  and  the  red  snapper 
fishery.  These  three  fisheries  contributed  nearly  one- 
half  of  the  total  value  of  products. 

The  total  product  of  the  state  in  1908  was  74,087,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $3,389,000.  Marked  gains  are 
shown  over  the  total  quantities  as  reported  for  earlier 
years. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — The  fishery  product  of 
the  Gulf  coast  of  Florida,  distributed  by  species  and  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  is  presented  in  Table  2,  page  107. 

The  sponge  fishery  was  the  most  important  on  the 
Gulf  coast,  having  a  total  product  of  622,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $545,000.  This  constituted  the  entire 
sponge  product  of  the  United  States,  and  represented 
26  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  of  the  Gulf 
coast  fisheries  of  Florida.  Following  the  sponge  fish- 
ery closely  in  the  value  of  their  product  were  the 
mullet  and  red  snapper  fisheries.     The  product  of  the 


102 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


red-snapper  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  was  7,659,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $432,000,  which  represented  over  99 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  reported  for  the  red-snap- 
per catch  of  the  state,  and  57  per  cent  in  quantity 
and  68  per  cent  in  value,  of  the  total  catch  of  the 
species  reported  for  the  United  States. 

Table  3,  on  page  108,  gives  the  products  of  the  Atlan- 
tic coast  fisheries  of  Florida,  distributed  by  species. and 
by  apparatus  of  capture. 

Measured  by  value  of  products,  the  shad  fishery  was 
the  most  important  in  the  Atlantic  coast  district.  All 
but  3,600  pounds  of  the  shad  catch  of  the  state  was 
taken  in  the  Atlantic  coast  waters.  The  oyster 
product  consisted  entirely  of  market  oysters.  Prawn 
was  an  important  item,  the  yield  amounting  to 
4,152,000  pounds,  valued  at  $84,000,  the  entire 
product  of  the  state  being  reported  from  this  district. 
Shrimps,  on  the  other  hand,  were  reported  from  both 
the  Atlantic  coast  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

The  value  of  products  reported  for  1908,  by  princi- 
pal species  arranged  in  order  of  importance,  is  shown 
in  the  following  table  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Atlantic  coast  fisheries. 


Total 

Fish 

Mullet,  including  roe 

Red  snapper 

Shad 

Squeteague 

Spanish  mackerel 

Pompano 

BlacK  bass 

Catfish 

Bream,  or  sunllsh 

Blueflsh 

Sheepshead 

Drum  (salt-water),  or  channel  bass 

Grouper 

Sailor's  choice 

Crevall6 

All  other 

Sponges 

Oysters 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Alligator  hides 

Otter  skins 

All  other 


VALDE  OF  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


13.389,000 


1,337,000 

652,000 

434,000 

320,000 

196,000 

122,000 

65,000 

58,000 

54,000 

50,000 

45,000 

38,000 

38,000 

34,000 

32,000 

24,000 

174,000 

546,000 

296,000 

92,000 

48,000 

21,000 

50,000 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 


$2,120,000 


1,324,000 

475,000 

432,000 

200 

63,000 

71,000 

30,000 

2,, WO 

18,000 

5,800 

28,000 

17,000 

22,000 

33,000 

8,000 

5,300 

113,000 

545,000 

187,000 

400 

27,000 

10,000 

26,000 


Atlantic 

coast 
district. 


$1,269,000 


1,013,000 

177,000 

2,400 

320,000 

133,000 

61,000 

35,000 

5;>,000 

30,000 

44,000 

17,000 

21,000 

16,000 

1,400 

24,000 

19,000 

61,000 


109,000 
91,000 
21,000 
11,000 
23,000 


In  the  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic  coast  the  value  of 
shad,  mullet,  and  squeteague  constituted  about  one- 
half  of  the  total  value  of  products;  and  in  the  fisher- 
ies of  the  Gulf  the  value  of  sponges,  mullet,  and  red 
snapper  constituted  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  total 
value  of  products. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  products  of  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  for  1908  are  shown  in  detail, 
by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  Table  4,  on 
page  109. 

The  total  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  was 
63,992,000  pounds,  or  86  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the 
state,  and  its  value  was  $2,459,000,  or  73  per  cent  of 
the  total  for  the  state.  Among  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  the  mullet  fishery  was  the  most  important. 


contributing  26  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products; 
shad  ranked  second,  with  13  per  cent  of  the  total 
value;  and  oysters  third,  with  12  per  cent. 

The  distribution  between  the  vessel  fisheries  and 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  value  reported  for 
the  leading  species  in  1908  is  given  below: 


Total 

Fish 

Mullet,  including  roe 

Red  snapper 

Shad 

Squeteague 

Spanish  mackerel 

Pompano 

.  Black  bass 

Catfish 

Bream,  or  sunflsh 

Blueiish 

Sheepshead 

Drum  (salt-water),  or  channel  bass 

Grouper 

Sailor's  choice 

CrevalW 

All  other 

Sponges 

Oysters 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Alligator  hides 

Otter  skins 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  products;  1908. 


Total. 


$3,389,000 


1,337,000 

652,000 

434,000 

320,000 

196,000 

122,000 

65,000 

58,000 

54,000 

50,000 

46,000 

38,000 

38,000 

34,000 

32,000 

24,000 

174,000 

545,000 

296,000 

92,000 

48,000 

21,000 

50,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$930,000 


476,000 

4,200 

418,000 


(') 

19.000 
000 


1.000 

100 

100 

24,000 

(') 

600 

8,000 

436,000 

9,500 


8,600 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$2,459,000 


1,861,000 

648,000 

16,000 

320,000 

196,000 

104,000 

64,000 

58,000 

64,000 

60,000 

44,000 

38,000 

38,000 

9,500 

32,000 

23,000 

166,000 

109,000 

287,000 

92,000 

48,000 

21,000 

41,000 


'Less  than  SIOO. 

The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  waters  had 
a  total  catch  of  28,216,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$1,215,000,  which  represented  44  per  cent  in  quantity 
and  49  per  cent  in  value  of  the  shore  and  boat  catch 
of  the  state.  Of  the  total  products  of  the  Gulf  coast 
fisheries  of  the  state,  75  per  cent  in  quantity  and  57 
per  cent  in  value  were  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  In  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf 
the  catch  of  mullet  exceeded  in  value  that  of  any  other 
species,  representing  about  one-third  of  the  total  value 
of  all  products  of  the  fisheries  in  question.  Oysters 
were  next  in  value  and  sponges  third. 

The  total  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in 
the  waters  tributary  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean  was 
35,776,000  pounds,  with  a  value  of  $1,244,000,  repre- 
senting 56  per  cent  in  quantity  and  51  per  cent  in 
value  of  the  shore  and  boat  catch  of  the  state.  Of  the 
total  products  of  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries  of  the 
state,  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  were  credited  with 
98  per  cent  both  in  quantity  and  in  value. 

The  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  for  1908  are 
presented  in  detail,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  in  table  5,  on  page  110. 

The  total  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  of  Florida  was 
10,094,000  pounds,  valued  at  $930,000,  representing  14 
per  cent  in  quantity  and  27  per  cent  in  value  of  all 
fishery  products  of  the  state.  In  this  class  of  fisheries 
the  sponge  product  was  the  largest  item  in  value,  and 
snappers  ranked  second.  The  total  of  these  two  prod- 
ucts was  $854,000,  or  92  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  products  of  all  vessel  fisheries  of  the  state. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


103 


The  sponge  and  red  snapper  products  of  the  vessel 
fisheries  of  the  Gulf  coast  together  had  a  value  of 
$851,000,  or  94  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  fisheries  in 
question.  The  total  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  in 
the  Atlantic  waters  was  745,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$25,000,  which  represents  7  per  cent  in  quantity  and 
3  per  cent  in  value  of  the  total  products  of  the  vessel 
fisheries  of  the  state.  Of  the  total  products  of  the 
Atlantic  fisheries  of  the  state,  the  products  of  the 
vessel  fisheries  formed  2  per  cent  both  in  quantity  and 
in  value. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  distribution 
of  the  total  value  of  products  for  1908  by  apparatus  of 
capture  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement  for 
the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  respectively: 


lUND  OF  APFABATUa. 


Total 

Gill  nets 

Lines 

Seines 

Sponge  hooks  and  diving  equipment 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Firearms 

Trammel  nets 

Fish  traps 

Cast  nets 

otter  traps 

Another 


VALUE  or  products:  1908. 


Total. 


13,389,000 


1,133, 

617, 

606, 

545, 

304 

48, 

27, 

25, 

23, 

21, 

38, 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$930,000 


18,000 
452,000 

15,000 

436,000 

9,500 


100 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


12,459,000 


115,000 

165,000 

591,000 

109,000 

295,000 

48,000 

27,000 

25,000 

23,000 

21,000 

38,000 


The  value  of  the  products  caught  by  gill  nets  forms 
a  larger  percentage  of  the  total  value  than  that  for 
any  other  apparatus  of  capture.  This  class  of  appa- 
ratus was  used  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  in  the 
capture  of  nearly  all  of  the  numerous  species  of  fish 
proper  reported,  although  70  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  gill-net  catch  represents  the  combined 
value  of  mullet  and  shad.  The  use  of  gill  nets  was 
practically  confined  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
The  next  highest  value  of  products  was  reported  for 
the  catch  by  lines.  The  red  snapper,  which  constituted 
70  per  cent  of  the  total  line  catch  in  value,  was  taken 
exclusively  with  lines. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  total 
value  of  fishery  products,  distributed  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  for  the  state  and  for  the  Gulf  and  the  Atlantic 
coast  waters,  respectively : 


VALUE 

OF  PEODUCTS:  1908. 

KIND  or  APPAHATUS. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Atlantic 

coast 
district. 

Total 

$3,389,000 

$2,120,000 

$1,269,000 

Oill  ne  ts 

1,133,000 

017,000 

606,000 

545,000 

304,000 

48,000 

27,000 

25,000 

23,000 

21,000 

38,000 

559,000 

534,000 

193,000 

545,000 

187,000 

27,000 

27,000 

6,500 

1,.500 

10,000 

29,000 

574,000 

83,000 

Seines.                                   

414,000 

Sponge  hooks  and  diving  equipment 

117,000 

21,000 

Fish  traps.           

19,000 

Cast  nets                                      

22.000 

Otter  traps              

11,000 

All  other 

9,000 

MvMet. — While  the  total  product  of  the  state's 
mullet  fishery  in  1908,  including  roe  (24,716,000 
pounds),  was  considerably  less  than  the  catch  of  1902 
(32,289,000  pounds),  it  was  larger  than  for  any  other 
year  for  which  statistics  are  available.  The  increase 
in  the  price  per  pound  was  sufficient,  however,  to  raise 
the  total  value  of  the  product  from  $473,000  in  1902 
to  $652,000  in  1908,  an  increase  in  value  of  38  per  cent, 
compared  with  a  decrease  in  weight  of  24  per  cent. 
Mullet  contributed  only  19  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
state's  fishery  products  in  1908,  but  constituted  one- 
third  of  the  aggregate  weight  of  all  such  products. 
Practically  all  of  the  mullet  was  taken  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  less  than  1  per  cent  being  the  prod- 
uct of  vessel  fisheries.  Seventy-two  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  this  product  was  reported  for  the  Gulf 
fisheries. 

The  principal  apparatus  of  capture  employed  in  the 
mullet  fishery  was  gill  nets,  by  means  of  which  mullet 
valued  at  $542,000  was  caught,  representing  83  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  state's  mullet  catch. 
Seines  ranked  next,  the  value  of  the  amount  taken  in 
this  way  forming  14  per  cent  of  the  total  value  reported 
for  this  species.  The  remaining  2  per  cent  represents 
the  catch  by  means  of  trammel  nets,  cast  nets,  and 
dip  nets. 

Of  the  mullet  product,  1,046,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$39,000,  was  reported  as  having  been  salted,  and 
135,000  pounds  consisted  of  muUet  roe,  valued  at 
$15,000. 

Sponges. — As  already  indicated,  the  sponge  fishery 
belongs  exclusively  to  the  Gulf  coast  district.  It  is 
subject  to  marked  fluctuations  from  year  to  year,  and 
for  a  few  years  following  1900  it  appeared  to  be  on  a 
decUne.  The  statistics  for  1908,  however,  show  a 
large  increase  both  in  quantity  and  in  value  of  product; 
the  quantity  exceeded  that  reported  for  any  prior  year, 
and  the  value  was  exceeded  only  by  that  reported  for 
the  year  1900.  The  average  prices  per  pound  for  the 
different  grades  and  for  the  product  as  a  whole  are, 
however,  lower  than  they  have  been  for  a  number  of 
years  for  which  statistics  are  available.  As  the  sponge 
fisheries  of  Florida  represent  the  entire  industry  in 
the  United  States,  the  statistics  in  regard  to  the  persons 
employed,  the  equipment  in  vessels,  boats,  and  appa- 
ratus, and  the  capital  are  herewith  presented. 

In  1908  there  were  employed  in  the  sponge  fisheries 
143  sailing  vessels,  which  aggregated  2,200  tons  and 
were  valued  at  $186,000.  These  vessels  carried  88 
diving  boats  and  367  other  boats.  The  investment  in 
outfit  was  $103,000.  The  total  investment  in  vessels, 
boats,  and  their  outfit  was  $337,000  for  the  vessel 
fisheries.  In  the  shore  and  boat  sponge  fisheries,  567 
additional  boats  of  all  kinds,  valued  at  $102,000,  were 
used.  Their  value,  added  to  the  foregoing,  makes  a 
total  investment  of  $439,000  in  vessels,  boats,  and 
outfits  in  connection  with  the  sponge  industry.  The 
567  boats  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  sponge 
fisheries  consisted  of  2  motor  boats,  175  sailboats,  356 


104 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


rowboats,  and  34  diving  boats.  In  the  sponge  fisheries 
as  a  whole,  122  diving  boats,  having  a  value  of  $40,000, 
were  used. 

Persons  einploj'^ed  in  the  sponge  fisheries  in  1908, 
exclusive  of  172  proprietors  not  fishing,  formed  a 
total  of  2,097,  distributed  as  follows:  125  proprietors 
and  independent  fishermen;  1  salaried  employee;  and 
1,971  wage-earners,  who  received  $437,000  in  wages 
(including  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $132,- 
000).  The  persons  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries, 
exclusive  of  90  proprietors  not  fishing,  numbered  1,466, 
and  comprised  32  proprietors  and  independent  fisher- 
men, 1  salaried  employee,  and  1,433  wage-earners,  re- 
ceiving wages  to  the  amount  of  $343,000  (including 
provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $95,000).  In  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  631  persons  were  employed,  of 
whom  93  were  proprietors  (exclusive  of  82  not  fish- 
ing) ,  and  538  wage-earners,  who  received  wages  to  the 
amount  of  $93,000  (inclusive  of  provisions  to  the  value 
of  $37,000). 

The  total  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  was 
$78,000,  which  comprised  hooks  and  diving  apparatus 
to  the  value  of  $76,000,  and  nets  and  other  fishing  ap- 
paratus to  the  value  of  $1,300,  reported  by  certain  of  the 
vessel  sponge  fishers  who  had  a  fish  catch.  Of  the  total 
investment  in  the  sponge  industry  in  apparatus  of 
capture,  $55,000  was  credited  to  the  vessel  fisheries  and 
$22,000  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  invest- 
ment in  shore  and  accessory  property  for  the  sponge 


fisheries  was  $4,900,  practically  all  of  which  was  re- 
ported by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  the  sponge  catch 
for  1908  is  shown  in  detail,  classified  according  to  kind 
or  grade  of  product,  and  according  to  apparatus  of 
capture,  whether  taken  by  hooks  or  with  diving 
apparatus : 


SPONGE  product:  1908. 

TOTAL. 

TAKEN  BY— 

KIND. 

Hooks. 

Diving  apparatus. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

622.000 

S.M.'i.OOO 

233,000 

$177,000 

389,000 

$367,000 

Sheepswool 

Yellow 

310,000 

191,000 

110,000 

1,300 

2,700 

8,500 

481,000 

43,000 

17,000 

500 

2,000 

1,400 

132,000 

43,000 

54,000 

1,300 

2,700 

100 

156,000 
9,700 
8,700 
500 
2,000 
(') 

177,000 
148,000 
56,000 

324,000 
33,000 

8.600 

Glove       

Wire 

8,400              1.4A0 

1  I/ess  than  $100. 

The  catch  with  diving  apparatus  represented  ap- 
proximately two-thirds  of  the  total  value,  and  the 
catch  with  hooks  one-third. 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  sponge  product  for  1908  are  compared 
with  the  figures  for  a  series  of  years  as  reported  by  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries: 


SPONGE  PRODUCT. 

TXAB. 

Total. 

Sheepswool. 

Yellow. 

Grass. 

All  other. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908         .                

622,000 
347,000 
396,000 
418,000 
304,000 
332,000 

236,000 
306,000 
367,000 
317,000 
207,000 

$545,000 
364,000 
493,000 
668,000 
368,000 
286,000 

273,000 
387,000 
439,000 
381,000 
201,000 

310,000 
134,000 
203,000 
181,000 
154,000 
167,000 

150,000 
231,000 

(') 

(') 

(') 

$481,000 
298,000 
423,000 
483,000 
332,000 
241,000 

248,000 
363,000 

(') 

191,000 
57,000 
63,000 
74,000 
66,000 
32,000 

24,000 
30,000 

(') 

$43,000 
31,000 
39,000 
44,000 
16,000 
13,000 

9,300 
12,000 
(') 
(') 
(') 

110,000 
141,000 
109,000 
143,000 
77,000 
129,000 

45,000 
21,000 

(■) 

$17,000 
30,000 
24,000 
33,000 
14,000 
•     29,000 

12,000 
5,600 

^'i 
(') 

12,000 
16,000 
22,000 
19,000 
18,000 
13,000 

18,000 
24,000 

^] 
(') 

$4,000 

1902 

5,800 

1901         .            

6,700 

1900 

7,100 

1899         .                

5.000 

1897 

3,200 

1896 

4,000 

1895         .            .  .  .. 

6,500 

1890 

(') 

1889         .                              .... 

(') 

1880 

(') 

Not  reported  separately. 


Bed  snapper. — ^The  red-snapper  fishery  has  increased 
steadily  in  importance,  as  shown  by  the  following 
tabular  statement  of  the  product  for  a  number  of 
years : 


TUB. 

RED-SNAPPER 

PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

7,719,000 
8,074,000 
6,314,000 
4,886,000 
4,173,000 
3,409,000 
223,000 

$434,000 
237,000 

1902 

1897 

171,000 

1895 

165,000 
124,000 

1880 

1889 

106.000 

1880 

8,900 

The  increase  in  both  quantity  and  value  of  product 
since  1880  is  remarkable,  while  the  average  value  per 
pound  for  1908  represents  a  great  advance  over  that 
for  the  earlier  years  shown.  This  fishery  was  confined 
almost  entirely  to  the  Gulf  waters,  and  the  catch  was 
made  exclusively  with  lines. 

Shad. — The  shad  fishery  was  by  far  the  most  impor- 
tant of  the  Atlantic  coast  district,  contributing  25  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  all  products  of  these  waters  in  1908. 
Shad  ranked  third  in  value  among  the  fish  of  the  state, 
representing  9  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  products. 
Compared  with  the  catch  for  1902,  which  was  1,819,- 
000  pounds,  valued  at  $125,000,  the  product  of  1908 
shows  an  increase  of  56  per  cent  in  quantity  and  of 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


105 


156  per  cent  in  value.  The  value  of  the  products  of 
this  fishery  has  increased  remarkably,  having  been 
only  $20,000  in  1880  and  only  $42,000  in  1890.  In 
value  of  the  shad  catch  in  1908  Florida  was  surpassed 
only  by  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  although  in 
respect  to  quantity  Maryland  and  New  Jersey  ranked 
ahead  of  it.  The  entire  catch  was  made  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  with  gill  nets  and  seines. 

Oysters. — In  respect  to  the  value  of  products  the 
oyster  fishery  of  Florida  holds  fifth  place  among  tlie 
fisheries  of  the  state.  The  total  product  in  1908  was 
1,067,000  bushels,  valued  at  $296,000,  or  9  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  state. 
About  one-third  of  the  value  of  the  products  was 
reported  from  the  Atlantic  coast  waters  and  the 
remainder  from  the  Gulf  waters.  The  oyster  fishery 
was  conducted  principally  by  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries, which  reported  97  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  oyster  product.  Compared  with  1902  the 
product  of  Florida  shows  a  decrease  of  737,000  bushels, 
or  41  per  cent,  in  quantity,  and  of  $69,000,  or  19  per 
cent,  in  value.  It  is  noteworthy  that  this  decrease 
has  taken  place  entirely  in  the  Atlantic  coast  disti-ict, 
where  the  value  of  the  oyster  catch  decreased  from 
$220,000  in  1902  to  $109,000  in  1908,  while  on  the 
Gulf  coast  there  was  an  increase  from  $124,000  in  1902 
to  $187,000  in  1908. 

Squeteague. — The  squeteague,  or  sea  trout,  ranks 
next  to  the  oyster  in  respect  to  value  of  product.  In 
1908,  4,864,000  pounds  of  this  fish,  having  a  value  of 
$196,000,  were  caught,  as  compared  with  only  2,757,000 
pounds,  having  a  value  of  $73,000,  in  1902.  About 
two-thirds  of  the  catch  was  taken  in  the  Atlantic  coast 
fisheries,  and  practically  all  in  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 


eries. The  catch  was  made  principally  with  gill  nets 
and  seines.  The  product  includes  54,000  pounds 
reported  as  sold  salted. 

Alligators. — Among  the  important  fishery  indus- 
tries of  Florida,  though  the  value  of  the  product  is 
comparatively  small,  is  the  alligator  industry.  About 
three-fourths  of  all  the  alligators  killed  in  the  United 
States  in  1908  were  killed  in  Florida,  the  product 
aggregating  51,000  hides,  valued  $48,000.  This  rep- 
resents a  large  increase  over  1902,  when  only  31,000 
hides,  valued  at  $18,000,  were  secured.  No  data  are 
given  for  this  industry  in  the  1880  report  of  the  Bureau 
of  Fisheries.  In  the  1890  report  it  was  estimated  that 
not  less  than  2,500,000  alligators  were  killed  between 
1880  and  1890,  and  it  was  stated  that  the  numbers 
had  been  greatly  reduced  because  of  the  nonmigratory 
habits  and  the  remarkably  slow  growth  of  the  animal, 
and  because  of  the  killing  of  many  alligators  before 
they  had  reached  the  reproductive  age.  The  product 
of  the  Gulf  coast  alone  in  1890  was  49,000  alligator 
hides,  valued  at  $35,000,  and  84,000  alligator  feet, 
valued  at  $4,200.  No  data  were  compiled  by  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  the  Atlantic  coast.  In  1908 
hides  valued  at  $27,000,  or  56  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  alhgator  products,  were  secured  from  the 
Gulf  coast  rivers,  and  hides  valued  at  $21,000  from 
the  Atlantic  coast  rivers. 

Otters. — The  otter-skin  product  of  the  state  is  a 
substantial  one  and  in  1908  formed  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  otter-skin  catch  of  the  entire  country. 
The  total  for  the  state  was  2,900  skins,  having  a  value 
of  $21,000,  compared  with  3,300  skins,  having  a  value 
of  $18,000,  in  1902.  Thus,  while  the  quantity  de- 
creased, the  value  increased. 


106 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1  .—FLORIDA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PBODUCT  CAUGHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Cast  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Total 

74,087,000 

»3, 389, 000 

29,803,000 

81,133,000 

12,747,000 

8617,000 

20,400,000 

8606,000 

792,000 

827,000 

653,000 

823,000 

9,691,000 

8982,000 

Fish: 

1,224,000 
38,000 
70,000 
45,000 

1,070,000 

952,000 
11,000 

1,547,000 
16,000 

1,481,000 

123,000 

1,435,000 

94,000 

1,426,000 
185,000 

1,276,000 

388,000 

198,000 

81,000 

14,000 

52,000 

345,000 

3,500 

18,000 

24,582,000 

,      135,000 

417,000 

24,000 

109,000 

508,000 

133,000 
35,000 
26,000 
1,257,000 
22,000 

154,000 
2,836,000 
1,571,000 
7,719,000 

342,000 

2,647,000 

178,000 

4,864,000 

,      180,000 
9,000 

62,000 

200 

230,000 
170,000 
350,000 

148,000 

62,000 

4,353,000 

53,000 

21,000 

163,000 

300 

622,000 

15,000 
« 239, 000 

6  7,327,000 

« 141,000 

'400 

8  254,000 

•5,700 

'"28,000 

5,500 
1,600 
3,100 
3,100 
58,000 

45,000 
900 

50,000 
400 

54,000 

2,800 

24,000 

2,100 

38,000 
8,100 

34,000 
19,000 
8,000 
4,800 
1,100 

900 

9,000 

300 

900 

637,000 

15,000 
9,600 
1,000 
1,800 

65,000 

6,900 

2,800 

500 

32,000 

1,100 

6,600 
320,000 

38,000 
434,000 

15,000 

122,000 

4,200 

196,000 

7,400 
1,000 

5,000 

200 

8,600 
14,000 
17,000 

2,900 
3,700 
92,000 

2,600 

9,400 

11,000 

1,300 

545,000 

»1,000 
16,000 

284,000 

12,000 

lOO 

48,000 

21,000 

1,900 

1,224,000 

5,600 

38,000 

1,100 

30,000 

467,000 

84,000 
11,000 
16,000 

1,600 

100 

2,100 

27,000 

4,800 
900 
900 

500 
4,000 

100 

33,000 

700 

2,500 

340,000 

1,600 

200 

18,000 

22,000 

600 

376,000 

485,000 

200 

1,215,000 

11,000 

977,000 

71,000 
81,000 
73,000 

641,000 
55,000 

9,300 
11,000 
27,000 

4,200 

700 

m 

19,000 
20,000 

m 

38,000 

200 

27,000 

1,300 
2,300 
1,500 

14,000 
2,200 

400 

500 

1,100 

200 



9,800 

14,000 

218,000 

600 

1,000 

Black  bass 

Bluefish 

4,500 
42,000 

200 
1,900 

1,500 



100 

12,000 

13,000 

5,700 

500 

52,000 
81,000 
15,000 

514,000 
49,000 

74,000 

86,000 

172,000 

15,000 

600 
100 
(') 

1,!)00 

2,600 

400 

15,000 
1,900 

3,500 

4,400 

6,900 

900 

2,300 

100 

299,000 

10,000 

Catfish, 

259,000 

100 

1,250,000 

2,500 

121,000 
100 

1,185,000 
281,000 

8,700 

(') 
19,000 
100 

2,900 
(n 

30,000 
14,000 

200 

m 

244,000 

17,000 

Cobia 

100 

(') 

Crevall6 

23,000 

500 

3,000 

41,000 
1,000 

100 

1,600 
100 

Drum  (salt-water), 

109,000 
7,500 

4,100 
400 

Flounders 

72,000 

8,000 
10,000 

3,500 

400 

600 

Hickory  shad 

57,666 
14,000 

8,800 

3,500 
1,100 

400 

4,300 

300 

Jewfish 

32,000 
320,000 

400 
8,400 

12,000 
24,000 

100 
500 

100 

(') 

1,400 

1,900 

6,000 

20,892,000 

86,000 

52,000 

8,800 

6,800 

374,000 

16,000 
16,000 

100 

200 

300 

534,000 

8,300 

800 

300 

200 

49,000 

900 
1,300 

Margate-fish 

1,300 

100 

300 

(') 

11,000 
3,117,000 

49,000 

288,000 

5,700 

100,000 

120,000 

4,600 

600 
87,000 

7,100 
4,300 
200 
1,500 
14,000 

100 

1,500 
361,000 

10,000 

Mullet 

197,000 

5,100 

15,000 

300 

61,000 

2,600 

600 

5,100 

110,000 
15,000 

3,900 
100 

m 

1,000 

5,700 
1,200 

16,000 

60O 

Permit 

7,000 

300 

Pigfish 

1,200 

m 

8,000 

800 

Porgy»  or  scup . 

PftrVfish 

2,600 
3,900 

200 

300 

22,000 
776,000 
22,000 

78,000 
668,000 
876,000 

400 

13,000 

1,100 

2,500 
64,000 
18,000 

3,000 
6,000 

100 
200 

Sailor's  choice 

328,000 

11,000 

60,000 

4,700 

86,000 

3,400 

1,700 

100 

28,000 

2,168,000 

553,000 

1,000 

256,000 

15,000 

47,000 

3,100 

700 

(«) 

Shad 

Sheepshead 

Snapper,  red 

Snapper,  other 

Spanish  mackerel.. 

38,000 

7,719,000 

66,000 

235,000 

1,000 

85,000 

1,200 

434,000 

4,100 

12,000 

m 

4,600 

82,000 

3,200 

22,000 

900 

186,000 

1,248,000 

33,000 

1,985,000 

1,200 
9,000 

62,000 

200 

42,000 
56,000 
38,000 

7,500 

63,000 

1,000 

95,000 

100 
1,000 

5,000 

200 

1,500 
5,500 
1,800 

76,000 

1,148,000 

123,000 

2,728,000 

177,000 

1,900 

46,000 

2,500 

94,000 

7,300 

18,000 

19,000 
9,500 
56,000 

700 

1,000 

200 

2,800 

800 

m 

6,800 

500 

12,000 
10,000 

400 
70O 

Squeteague 

Strawberry    bass, 

or  crappie 

Striped  bass 

2,000 

100 

Caviar  and  stur- 

Whlthig,  or  king- 
fish 

37,000 

73,000 

262,000 

66,000 
40,000 

1,500 
7,300 
12,000 

1,900 
2,600 

151,000 
32,000 
47,000 

5,000 

.5,500 

900 

2,600 

100 

1,200 

100 

Yftllowtail. 

1,000 

(») 

8,000 
3,200 

77,000 
15,000 
8,000 

20,000 

3,800 
5,100 

800 

AH  other 

lOO 

900 

Crabs,  stone             .... 

6,800 

40O 

700 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Spiny  lobster,  or  craw- 
fish  

4,106,000 

82,000 

240,000 
20,000 

9,000 
1,000 

400 

13,000 

6,600 

126,000 

300 

600 

2,600 
11,000 
1,300 

1,000 

Terrapin 

10,000 
26,000 

6,000 
700 

1,800 

5,000 

100 

100 

Tortoise  shell 

622,000 

16,000 
•239,000 

'7,327,000 

•141,000 

'400 

8  254,000 

9  6,700 

"28,000 

645,000 

Conchs  . 

'  1,000 

15,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

284,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 
private  areas 

Scallops 

12,000 
100 

Hides,  alligator 

Skin«.  otter, . 

48,000 

21,000 

1,900 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Sponge  hooks  and  diving  apparatus,  622,000  pounds,  valued  at  8545,000;  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  7,506,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$304,000;  firearms,  254,000  pounds,  valued  at  848,000;  fish  traps,  517,000  pounds,  valued  at  826,000;  otter  traps,  5,700  pounds,  valued  at  $21,000;  pound  nets,  295,000  pounds, 
valued  at  818,000;  spears,  119,000  pounds,  valued  at  80,100;  dip  nets,  92,000  pounds,  valued  at  81,200;  shrimp  nets,  8,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  fyke  nets,  4,000  pounds, 
valued  at  8300:  and  minor  apparatus,  268,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000. 

»  Less  than  $100.  '  1,047,000  bushels.  8  51,000  hides. 

»  Includes  pearls,  valued  at  8300.  »  20,000  bushels.  '  2,900  skins. 

*  30,000  bushels.  '  50  gallons.  '»  3.800  gallons. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES.  107 

Table  2.— FLORIDA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  GULF  OF  MEXICO  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Pound  nets. 

Ail  other  appa- 
ratus. I 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

^^^l  value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total            ..  . 

37,566,000 

S2, 120, 000 

15,834,000 

$559,000 

10,004,000 

$534,000 

5,708,000 

$193,000 

792,000 

$27,000 

296,000 

$18,000 

4,934,000 

$790,000 

Fish: 

38,000 
67,000 
44,000 
37,000 
580,000 

11,000 
138,000 

16,000 
246,000 

41,000 

175,000 

608,000 

86.000 

1,231.000 

384,000 

81.000 
14,000 
52,000 
345,000 
3,500 

18,000 

16,008,000 

135,000 

41.000 

24,000 

232,000 
133,000 
35,000 
26,000 
125,000 

22,000 

43.000 

3,(iO0 

473.000 

7,  (>59, 000 

2.32,000 

1,419,000 

48.000 

1.207,000 

6,500 

200 
37,000 
169.000 
287,000 

2,400 
62.000 
8,000 

53.000 
2,f«l 

134,000 

.300 

622,000 

15.000 

•182,000 

•3,721,000 

•43,000 

'400 

» 136, 000 

•2,800 

1,600 
3,000 
3,100 
2,500 
28,000 

900 
6,800 

400 

18,000 

1,500 

5,300 

22,000 
3,900 
33,000 
19,000 

4,800 
1,100 

900 
9,000 

300 

900 

459,000 

15.000 

3,100 

1,000 

30,000 

6,900 

2,800 

500 

8,000 

1.100 

1,500 

200 

17,000 

432,000 

13,000 

71,000 

1.600 

03,000 

600 

200 
1,400 
14,000 
14,000 

200 

3,700 

400 

2,600 
1,000 

11,000 

1.300 

545.000 

M.OOO 

5,800 

182,000 

4,600 

100 

27.000 

10.000 

37,000 
1,100 
30,000 
12,000 
11,000 

11,000 
14,000 

1,600 
100 

2,100 
800 

1,700 

900 
800 

500 
4,000 

100 

Angel-fish 

33,000 

1,600 

20,000 

700 

2,100 

100 

7,700 
14,000 
2,000 

600 

1,000 

2.000 
202,000 

200 
12,000 

4,500 
42,000 

200 
1,900 

16,000 

1,100 

100 

Rliipfish 

325,000 

200 
11,000 
11,000 
2,000 
9,000 

72,000 

217,000 
27,000 
9,  .300 
11,000 

4,200 

13,000 

m 

400 
200 
100 
400 

2,100 

7,800 

1,100 

400 

500 

200 

Bream,  or  sunfish.... 

13,000 
6,700 

600 
100 

97,000 

3,900 

2,000 

100 

Catfish 

30,000 

2,000 

200 

m 

132,000 

9,200 

82,000 

6,500 

Cobia,  or  snooks 

PrPvallfS 

32,000 

68,000 

279,000 
35.000 
74,000 
82,000 

16,000 

1,100 

2,200 

10,000 
1,500 
3,500 
4,300 

900 

22,000 

600 

23,000 

109,000 
7,600 

500 

4,100 
400 

Drum  (salt-water),  or 

3,000 
16,000 

100 

1,000 

Grouper 

1,146,666 
281,000 

57,000 
14,000 
8,800 

29,000 
14,000 

3,400 

1,100 

400 

7,500 
10,000 

4,300 

400 
500 

300 

TTnf^<!h 

Jewfish 

Jurel 

32,000 
320,000 

400 
8,400 

12,000 
24,000 

100 
500 

100 

(') 

1.400 
i;900 

6,000 

12,708,000 

86,000 

100 
200 

300 

365,000 

8.300 

1,300 

100 

300 

m 

Mfinnfi^h 

11,000 

2,938.000 

49,000 

600 

84,000 

7,100 

1.500 
361,000 

10,000 

Mullet. 

4,000 

200 

41,000 
2,600 

5,000 

110,000 

15,000 

3,100 
100 

i,qoo 

5,700 
1,200 

Permit 

8,800 

179,000 
16,000 
16,000 

300 

24,000 

900 

1,300 

6,500 

40,000 
4,600 

200 

4,300 
100 

7,000 

300 

8,000 

800 

Porgv,  orscup 

Pork  fish 

2,600 
3,900 

200 

300 

22,000 
25,000 

22,000 
15,000 

400 
1,000 

1,100 
600. 

3,000 
6,000 

100 
200 

Sailor's  choice 

35,000 

2,000 

58,000 

4,600 

1,700 

100 

28,000 

3,600 

261,000 

1,000 

200 

9,000 

700 

W 

Shad 

Sheepshead 

130,000 

4,600 

82,000 

3,200 

200 

P) 

7,659,000 

48,000 
28,000 

432,000 

3,800 
2,800 

Snapper,  other 

Spanish  mackerel.... 
Spot 

131.000 

504,000 

13,000 

768.000 

6,500 

200 
18,000 
56.000 
11,000 

0,300 
36.000 

500 
44,000 

600 

200 

700 

6,500 

700 

30,000 
868.000 

21,000 
382,000 

1.200 

31,000 

700 

16,000 

18,000 
19.000 
10,000 
56,000 

700 
1,000 

200 
2,800 

5,800 

600 

6,000 

200 

Squeteague 

700 

(') 

Caviar  and  sturgeon 

WhitinK,  or  kingflsli. 

700 
73.000 
262,000 

m 

7,, 300 
12,000 

18.000 
31.000 
23,000 

700 

900 

1,600 

■ 

1,000 

(=) 

8.000 
200 

800 
(') 

Crabs,  hard.. 

2,400 
14,000 
8,000 

38.000 
600 

6,100 

200 

6,800 

400 

40,000 

2,600 

900 

100 

600 

Shrimp., 

400 

Spiny  lobster,  or  craw- 
fish.. 

13,000 
2,000 

124,000 
300 

600 
800 

10,000 
1,300 

1,800 

100 

1,900 

Terrapin 

200 

Turtles 

4,900 

200 

100 

Sponges 

622,000 

16,000 

•182,000 

•3,721,000 

•43,000 

'400 

"136,000 

•2,800 

545,000 

Conchs 

•1,000 

5,800 

Oysters,    marlcet,    from 
public  areas 

182,000 

Oysters,    market,    from 

4,600 

Scallops 

I 

100 

27,000 

Skins,  otter 

I 

10,000 

i 

1 i"" 

•  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Sponge  hooks  and  diving  apparatus,  622,000  pounds,  valued  at  $.545,000;  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  3,773,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$187,000;  firearms",  i:)6,000  pounds,  valued  at  $27,000;  otter  traps,  2,800  pounds,  valued  at  $10,000;  fish  traps,  .82,000  pounds,  valued  at  $6,500;  spears,  62,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$3,,500:  cast  nets,  33,000  pounds,  valued  at  51,500;  shrimp  nets,  8,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  fyke  nets,  4,000  pounds,  valued  at  .?:i00;  dip  nets,  2,400  pounds, valued  at  1200; 
and  minor  apparatus,  208,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,400. 

2  Less  than  $100.  •  203, OfX)  bushels.  •  0,100  bushels.  »  27,000  hides. 

» Includes  pearls,  valued  at  $300.  » 532,000  bushels.  '50  gallons.  •1,400  skins. 


108  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  3.— FLORIDA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  ATLANTIC  COAST  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PBODVCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Fish  traps.       |       Cast  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value    Quantity 
^'"™-  (pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total. 

36,521,000 

11,269,000 

13,969,000 

t574,000 

2,743,000 

S83,000 

14,692,000 

$414,000 

435,000 

1 
tl9,000       620,000 

122,000 

4,061,000 

1158,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

1,220,000 
1,034,000 
372,000 
1.409,000 
1,235,000 

82,000 

1,260,000 

92,000 

818.000 
99,000 

45,000 

4,400 

198,000 

8,  ,573, 000 

376,000 

3,000 

105,000 

276,000 

1,132,000 

110,000 

2,833,000 

1,098,000 

60,000 

110,000 

1,228,000 

130,000 

3,657,000 

180,000 

9,000 

55,000 

194,000 

75,000 

146,000 

4,346,000 

18,000 

29,000 

> 57, 000 

<  3,606,000 

»  98,000 

« 119,000 

'3.000 

"28,000 

5,400 
56,000 
17,000 
44.000 
36,000 

1,300 
19.000 
2,000 

10.000 
4,100 

1,400 

100 

8,000 

177,000 

6,500 

100 

1,800 

35,000 

24,000 

5,100 

320,000 

21,000 

2,400 

2,200 

51,000 

2,600 

133,000 

7,400 

1,000 
4,400 
7,200 
2,500 

2,700 

91,000 

8,500 

700 

9,400 

101,000 

7,600 

•      21,000 

11,000 

1,900 

1,220,000 
376,000 
160,000 

1,204,000 
975,000 

62.000 
8,700 
71,000 

424,000 
28,000 

5,400 
19,000 

7,400 
38,000 
27,000 

900 

200 

1,400 

6,700 
1,100 

500 
139,000 

(■) 
6,200 

456,000 

73,000 

2,300 

229,000 

100 

1,228,000 

2,600 

121,000 
100 

45,000 
200 

26,000 

3,100 

100 

6,700 

(>) 
18,000 
100 

2,900 

w 

1,400 

200,000 

11,000 

1,600 

100 

Bluelish 

Bream,  or  sunfish 

200,000 
30,000 

6,000 
1,600 

2,300 

100 

Catfish 

500 

20,000 
23,000 
15,000 

235,000 
14,000 

400 
500 
400 

4,000 
500 

Cohfa,  or  sergeant-fish. . 

100 

(=) 

Crevail* 

Croaker 

3,000 

38,000 
100 

100 

L.'iOO 
C") 

Drum  (salt-water),   or 
channel  bass 

57,000 

2,600 

Grunts 

4,000 

172,000 

8,184,000 

52,000 

100 

6,900 

169,000 

800 

100 

27,000 

181,000 

288,000 

m 

1,100 
3,000 
4,300 

Mullet,  including  roe. . . 
Mutton-flsh 

193,000 
16,000 

4,900 
600 

15,000 

300 

20,000 

800 

Pickerel 

3,000 

lOO 

Pigflsh 

6,800 
195,000 
294,000 

200 
25,000 
8,800 

600 

100 

3.000 

47,000 

m 

100 
3,100 

97,000 
81,000 
751,000 
04,000 

668,000 
746,000 

1.500 
9,800 
12,000 
2,000 

64,000 
13,000 

1,200 

(') 

Pompano 

86,000 

3,400 

Sea  bass 

Shad 

2,164,000 
291,000 

255,000 
5,700 

38,000 

.    60,000 

8,100 

207,000 

1,000 

84,000 

i,266 

2,400 
200 

9,300 

m 

4,600 

22,000 

800 

55,000 

744,000 

20,000 

1,217,000 

1,200 

9,000 
55,000 
24,000 
29,000 

1,200 

27,000 

600 

61,000 

100 

1,000 

4.40O 

800 

1,100 

40,000 

278,000 

102,000 

2,346,000 

177,000 

700 

15,000 

1,700 

77,000 

7,300 

800 

m 

Spanish  mackerel 

Spot 

7,300 
10,000 

300 
700 

Strawberry    bass    and 

2,000 

100 

Sturgeon 

Whiting,  or  kingfish 

36,000 
10,000 

66,000 

1,500 
200 

1,900 

133,000 
36,000 

6,000 

4,106,000 

10,000 

21,000 

4,800 
1,200 

100 

82,000 

6,000 

600 

1,200 

100 

Another 

76,000 

800 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

240,000 

9,000 

4,600 
2,300 

1,800 
200 

3,200 

1,600 

Turtles 

5,000 

100 

CIhiti^,  hnrH 

»  57,000 

*3,606,000 

'98,000 

« 119,000 

'3,000 

"28,000 

9,400 

101  000 

Oysters,  market,  from  pub- 
lic areas .   . 

Oysters,  market,  from  pri- 

7,600 
21,000 
11  000 

Skins,  otter... 

1               1 

Oil,  sperm 

1,900 

1 

1 

'  Includes  apparatus  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  3,732,000  pounds,  valued  at  1117,000:  firearms,  119.000  pounds,  valued  at  $21,000:  otter  traps,  3,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $11,000;  spears,  57,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,(i00:  dip  nets,  90,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,000;  and  minor  apparatus,  60,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,000. 
'  lyess  than  $100.  '  14,000  bushels.  '  1,500  skins. 

»  7,200  bushels.  «  24,000  hides.  «  3,800  gallons. 

•  515,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  4.— FLORIDA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


109 


TOTAL. 

PBODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Cast  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 

(poimds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value.' 

Total 

63,992,000 

$2,459,000 

29,483,000 

11,115,000 

4,186,000 

$165,000 

20,154,000 

$691,000 

792,000 

$27,000 

653,000 

$23,000 

8,723,000 

$537,000 

Fish: 

1,224,000 
34,000 
69,000 
41,000 

1,070,000 

937,000 

8,900 

1,547,000 

10,000 

1,481,000 

123,000 

1,403,000 

94,000 

1,427,000 
185,000 

265,000 

341,000 

198,000 

79,000 

14,000 

52,000 

345,000 

3,500 

18,000 

24,442,000 

135,000 

417,000 
24,000 
109,000 
605,000 

117,000 
34,000 
25,000 
1,257,000 
22,000 

114,000 

2,836,000 

1,668,000 

341,000 

341,000 

2,332,000 

178,000 

4,804,000 

180,000 
9,000 

62,000 

200 
230,000 
167,000 
334,000 

148,000 

62,000 

4,353,000 

52,000 

21,000 

74,000 

200 

136,000 

15,000 
'238,000 

5  6,860,000 

« 141,000 

'400 

8  254,000 

»  5, 700 

10  28,000 

5,500 
1,300 
3,000 
2,800 
58,000 

44,000 
700 

50,000 
400 

64,000 

2,800 
23,000 
2,100 

38,000 
8,100 

9,600 
17,000 
8,000 
4,600 
1,100 

900 

9,000 

300 

900 

632,000 

15,000 

9,600 

1,000 

1,800 

64,000 

6,100 

2,700 

500 

32,000 

1,100 

3,800 
320,000 
38,000 
16,0IX) 
15,000 

104,000 

4,200 

196,000 

7,400 
1,000 

5,000 

200 

8,600 
14,000 
10,000 

2,900 

3,700 

92,400 

2,000 

9,400 

3,600 

700 

109,000 

>1,000 
15,000 

274,000 

12,000 

100 

48,000 

21,000 

1,900 

1,224,000 

6,600 

33,000 

1,100 

27,000 

407,000 

83,000 
8,700 
10,000 

1,300 

100 

1,900 

27,000 

4,000 
700 
900 

500 
4,000 

100 

33,000 

700 

2,600 

326,000 

1,600 

m 

200 
17,000 

22,000 

600 

376,000 

485,000 

200 

1,215,000 

11,000 

977,000 

71,000 
81,000 
73,000 

041,000 
55,000 

9,300 
11,000 
27,000 

4,200 

700 

m 

19,000 

20,000 

(^) 
38,000 
200 
27,000 

1,300 
2,300 
1,500 

14,000 
2,200 

400 

500 

1,100 

200 



9,100 

12,000 

218,000 

500 

900 

4,600 
42,000 

200 
1,900 

1,600 

100 

12,000 

Breaiii,  or  sunflsh — 
Biitterfish 

13,000 

5,700 

600 

52,000 
80,000 
15,000. 

512,000 
49,000 

74.000 

80,000 

172,000 

15,000 

600 
100 

1,600 

2,600 

400 

15,000 
1,900 

3,500 

4,400 

6,900 

900 

2,300 

100 

299,000 

10,000 

259,000 

100 

1,218,000 

2,600 

121,000 
100 

174,000 
234,000 

8,700 

(') 
18,000 
100 

2,900 
W 

5,300 
11,000 

200 

(') 

244,000 

17,000 

100 

m 

Crevallfi 

•     23,000 

600 

3,000 

41,000 
1,000 

100 

1,000 
100 

Drum  (salt-water)^  or 

109,000 
7,500 

4,100 
400 

72,000 

7,500 
10,000 

3,600 

400 

500 

Hickory  shad 

66,000 
14,000 

8,800 

3,300 
1,100 

400 



4,300 

300 

Jewfish 

Jurel 

t 

32,000 
320,000 

400 
8,400 

12,000 
24,000 

100 
500 

100 

(') 

1,400 

1,900 

6,000 

20,752,000 

86,000 

52,000 

8,800 

0,800 

373,000 

16,000 
16,000 

ioo 

200 

300 

530,000 

8,300 

800 

300 

200 

49,000 

900 
1,300 

1,300 

100 

300 

(') 

11,000 

3,117,000 

49,000 

288,000 

5,700 

100,000 

120,000 

4,600 

600 

87,000 

7,100 

4,300 
200 

1,500 
14,000 

IOO 

1,500 
361,000 

10,000 

Mullet 

197,000 

5,100 

15,000 

300 

61,000 

2,400 

600 

3,300 

93,000 
14,000 

3,900 

100 

m 

000 

4,900 
1,100 

16,000 

600 

Permit 

7,000 

300 

1,200 

(•) 

8,000 

800 

Porgy,  orscup 

2,000 
3,900 

200 

300 

22,000 
776,000 
22,000 

78,000 
608,000 
870,000 

400 
13,000 
1,100 

2,500 
64,000 
18,000 

3,000 
6,000 

100 
200 

Sailor's  choice 

328,000 

11,000 

60,000 

4,700 

85,000 

3,400 

1,700 

100 

28,000 

2,168,000 

650,000 

1,000 

250,000 

15,000 

7,000 

300 

700 

(') 

Shad 

38,000 
341,000 
50,000 

232,000 

1,000 

85,000 

1,200 

10,000 

4,100 

12.000 

4,600 

82,000 

3,200 

22,000 

900 

Snapper,  red 

Snapper,  other 

Spanish  mackerel — 

185,000 

1,180,000 

32,000 

1,985,000 

1,200 
9,000 

62,000 

200 
41,000 
56,000 
38,000 

7,500 

60,000 

1,000 

95,000 

100 
1,000 

5,000 

200 
1,500 
5,500 
1,800 

76,000 

901,000 

123,000 

2,728,000 

177,000 

1,900 

31,000 

2,500 

94,000 

7,300 

18,000 

19,000 

9,500 

56,000 

700 

1,000 

200 

2,800 

800 

(') 

5,800 

500 

12,000 
10,000 

400 

700 

Strawberry  bass  and 

2,000 

100 

Striped  bass 

Sturgeon 

Caviar  and  sturgeon 
roe 

Whiting,  or  kingfish. 
Yellowtail 

37,000 

70,000 

240,000 

66,000 
40,000 

1,500 
7,000 
11,000 

1,900 
2,600 

151,000 
32,000 
47,000 

5,000 

6,500 

900 

2,600 

100 

1,200 

100 

1,000 

(«) 

8,000 
3,200 

77,000 
15,000 
8,000 
19,000 

3,800 
6,100 

800 

100 

Crabs,  hard 

900 

6,800 

400 

700 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Spiny  lobster,  or  crawfish 

4,106,000 

82,000 

240,000 
20,000 

9,000 
1,000 

400 

13,000 

6,000 

37,000 

200 

600 

2,000 

2,800 

700 

900 

10,000 
26,000 

5,000 
700 

1,800 

6,000 

100 

100 



Sponges 

136,000 

15,000 
< 238, 000 

58,850,000 

•141,000 

'  400 

'254,000 

•6,700 

i»2S,000 

109,000 

5  1,000 

15,000 

Oysters,    market,    from 
public  areas       

274,000 

Oysters,    market,    from 
private  areas 

12,000 

Scallops 

100 

48,000 

Skins,  otter 

21,000 

Oil,  sperm. 

1,900 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  7,029,000  pounds,  valued  at  $295,000:  sponge  hooks  and  diving  apparatus,  136,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$109,000;  fireanns,  254,000  pounds,  valued  at  $48,000;  fish  traps,  517,000  pounds,  valued  at  $25,000;  otter  traps,  5,700  pounds,  valued  at  $21,000;  pound  nets,  295,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $18,000;  spears,  115,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,900;  dip  nets,  92,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  shrimp  nets,  8,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  fyke  nets,  4,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $300;  and  minor  apparatus,  207,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000. 

»  Less  than  $100.  »  979,000  bushels.  » ,51,000  hides. 

5  Includes  pearls,  valued  at  $300.  »  20,000  bushels.  '  2,900  skins. 

<  30,000  bushels.  '  50  gallons.  "  3,800  gallons. 


110 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  5 .—FLORIDA— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY — 

SPECIES. 

cm  nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  apparatus.* 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

10,094,000 

$930,000 

320,000 

$18,000 

8,561,000 

$452,000 

1,214,000 

$460,000 

Fish: 

4,100 
1,200 
3,800 
15.000 
2,200 

32,000 

1,500 

1,005.000 

47,000 

1.900 

140,000 

600 

3,200 

16,000 
1,000 

40,000 
2,500 

7,378,000 

315,000 

3,600 

19,000 

1,100 

89,000 

200 

487,000 

»1,200 

•477,000 

200 
100 
300 
1,000 
200 

000 

100 

24,000 

2,200 

100 

4,200 

100 

600 

500 

100 

2,800 

100 

418,000 

19,000 

400 

900 

100 
7,700 

700 
436,000 

100 
9,500 

4,100 

200 

500 

m 

700 
1,700 

(') 

100 

2,100 
1,100 
2,200 

31,000 

100 
200 
200 

600 

Bluefish                                

14,000 

900 

Bonito 

500 
1,500 

(') 
lOO 

1,005,000 
47,000 

1,900 

24.666 
2,200 

100 

Muliet 

140,000 

4,200 

Mutton-fish 

600 
1,800 

16,000 
1,000 
40,000 

100 
400 

500 

100 

2,800 

1,400 

300 

• 

Porkflsh 

2,500 

100 

7,378,000 
2,400 
3.600 
17,000 

418,000 
200 
400 
800 

67,000 

3,500 

246,000 

15,000 

Ypiiowtail 

2,600 

100 

1,100 

100 

89,000 
200 

7,700 
700 

487,000 

»1,200 

< 477, 000 

436,000 

100 

9.500 

Per- 
sons era- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

YEAH. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outQt. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,215 
1,674 
1,404 
1,421 

$223,000 
122.000 
67.000 
51,000 

$169,000 
101.000 
49.000 
37,000 

$55,000 
22,000 
18,000 
15,000 

14.828,000 
11,103.000 
4.993.000 
2,994,000 

$701,000 

1902 

359.000 

1897 

171,000 

1890 

124,000 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Sponge  hooks  and  diving  apparatus,  487,000  pounds,  valued  at  $436,000;  seines,  246,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  dredges, 
tongs,  etc.,  477,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,500;  spears  and  hooks,  3,500  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  1,600  pounds,  valued  at  $100. 

2  Less  than  $100.  "M  bushels.  <  68,000  bushels. 

GEORGIA. 

The  fishery  products  of  Georgia  in  1908  had  a 
value  of  $701,000.  Oysters  contributed  nearly  half 
of  the  value  of  the  entire  product,  while  shad  and 
red  snapper  followed  as  other  leading  species.  The 
principal  fishing  grounds  are  the  Savannah,  the  AI- 
tamaha,  and  the  Ogeechee  Rivers,  and  the  outlying 
ocean  areas.  Following  is  a  general  summary  of  the 
statistics : 

Number  of  persons  employed , 2, 525 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $169, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 55,000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 185, 000 

Value  of  products 701, 000 

Though  this  industry  is  relatively  one  of  the  minor 
industries  of  the  state,  it  appears  to  be  increasing  in 
importance. 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  census 
report  for  1880  stated  that  the  sea  fisheries  of  Georgia 
were  at  that  time  almost  wholly  undeveloped,  but  the 
following  comparative  summary  shows  that  there  has 
been  a  decided  and  progressive  increase  since  then  in 

practically  every  item :  ■  Not  reported  separately. 


The  uniformity  of  development  in  the  Georgia  fish- 
eries since  1890  is  well  demonstrated  by  the  following 
comparative  statement  of  the  quantities  and  values 
of  the  chief  species  at  each  of  the  periods  for  which 
statistics  are  at  hand : 


PISHERY  PRODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Oysters. 

Shad. 

Red  snapper. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1902 

1897 

10,214.000 
8,568,000 
3,406.000 
1,570.000 

$339,000 

220,000 

87,000 

41,000 

1,333.000 

1.029,000 

788.000 

400.000 

$190,000 
75,000 
47,000 
31,000 

880,000 
125,000 

(') 

(') 

$30,000 
7,500 

(') 

1890 

(') 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


Ill 


The  increase  in  the  catch  has  not  been  so  rapid  in 
the  case  of  shad  as  in  that  of  some  other  varieties, 
but  there  has  been  a  marked  increase  in  the  price 
since  1902.  Red  snappers  were  not  mentioned  in 
the  report  for  1897,  but  they  occupied  the  third  place 
in  1908. 

Persons  employed. — The  statistics  in  regard  to  the 
number  of  persons  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  Georgia 
are  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Pro- 
prietors 
and  In- 
depend- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ployees. 

Wag* 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

2,525 

1634 

29 

1,862 

$338,000 

$17,000 

$320,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels. 
Shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries  

395 
7 

1,813 
310 

14 

18 

363 

7 

1,182 
310 

87,000 
1,400 

201,000 
49,000 

14,000 
3,500 

73,000 
1,400 

620 

11 

197,000 

49,000 

1 

1  E.iclusive  of  11  proprietors  not  fishing. 

The  seven  persons  employed  on  transporting  ves- 
sels were  connected  with  vessel  fishery  interests, 
while  all  the  shoresmen  were  connected  with  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  comparison  therefore 
shows  a  total  of  2,123  persons  for  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  and  of  402  for  the  vessel  fisheries.  The 
intermittent  character  of  much  of  the  employment  is 
manifest  from  the  low  average  individual  wage. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  table 
presents  statistics  in  regard  to  the  capital  invested  in 
the  industry: 


CLASS  OF  INTESTMENT. 

equipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 

Value. 

Number.  jTonnage. 

Total 

$408,000 

1 

Vessels  including  outfit                  

90,000 

85,000 

24,000 

20,000 

3,700 

61,000 

59,000 

2,000 

4.200 

4,000 

200 

79,000 

36,000 

24,000 

19,000 

700 

55,000 

3,100 

51,000 

185,000 

500 

88 
86 
15 

1,301 

1,255 

Steam                     .               

155 

Sail 

71 

1,100 

Vessels                 

Outfit 

Transporting  (sail) 

2 

46 

Boats                                                     .             ... 

134 

596 

2,059 

Sail                                               

other                                                  

2 

Of  the  total  investment,  $130,000  was  credited  to 
vessel  fisheries  and  $278,000  to  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


The  item  showing  the  largest  value  is  shore  and  acces- 
sory property,  which  was  valued  at  $185,000.  Of  this 
amount,  $37,000  belonged  to  vessel  fishery  interests 
and  $148,000  to  those  of  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
Craft  of  various  kinds  made  up  the  next  largest  item, 
the  value  exclusive  of  outfits  being  $163,000.  To  this 
the  value  of  vessels  contributed  $84,000  and  that  of 
boats  $79,000.  The  entire  amount  of  cash  capital 
reported  was  from  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  That 
none  was  reported  by  the  vessel  fisheries  is  due  partly 
to  their  close  association  with  canneries  whose  accounts 
carry  the  items  of  capital.  Sailing  vessels  were  more 
important  than  steam  vessels  in  number,  tonnage,  and 
value,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  investment  in  out- 
fits pertained  to  steam  craft.  Steam  and  motor  boats, 
although  less  than  one-fourth  as  numerous  as  sail- 
boats, exceeded  them  in  average  value  by  more  than 
50  per  cent.  The  bulk  of  the  apparatus  of  capture 
was  used  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  the  largest  invest- 
ment being  in  gill  nets.  Lines  and  dredges,  tongs, 
etc.,  were  the  only  kinds  of  apparatus  reported  for  the 
vessel  fisheries.  The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of 
apparatus  in  use  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  1908 
was  as  follows: 

Cast  nets 333 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 51 

Gill  nets 982 

Pound  nets 12 

Seines 123 

Spears 7 

Stop  nets 6 

Traps,  catfish 150 

Traps,  otter '. 325 

Products,  by  species. — The  quantity  and  value  of  the 
products  of  the  Georgia  fisheries  are  given,  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  the  table  on  page 
113.  The  value  of  the  oyster  product  formed  48  per 
cent  of  that  of  all  products.  Shad  and  red  snappers 
ranked  second  and  third,  respectively,  in  value  of 
catch.  All  other  species  amounted  to  2,401,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $142,000.  Only  three  of  these — 
prawn,  catfish,  and  sea  bass — appear  in  quantities 
exceeding  200,000  pounds,  while  terrapin  was  the 
only  one  for  Avliich  a  value  above  $20,000  was  reported. 
The  three  leading  species — oysters,  shad,  and  red 
snappers — have  contributed  the  bulk  of  the  increase 
both  in  the  quantity  and  in  the  value  of  fishery  prod- 
ucts since  1880,  although  their  gain  has  been  rela- 
tively no  greater  than  that  of  the  less  important 
species. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  product  of  vessel  fisheries  by 
species.  The  fish  were  taken  by  lines,  and  the  oyster 
product  (amounting  to  4,509,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$117,000)  was  taken  by  dredges,  tongs,  etc. 


112 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Fish. 


Grouper 

Red  snapper 

Sea  bass 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas. . 
Oysters,  marliet,  from  private  areas . 


PROPUCTS  OF  VESSEL 
FISHEEIES:   1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


5,774,000 


Value. 


$163,000 


4(>,000 
2,900 
30,000 
13,000 
37,000 
81,000 


1 161,000  bushels. 


» 483.000  bushels. 


If  the  items  given  ia  the  foregoing  tabular  state- 
ment be  deducted  from  the  table  on  page  113,  the  latter 
may  be  used  as  a  table  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
Groupers  and  red  snappers  were  taken  solely  in  the 
vessel  fisheries,  and  only  sea  bass  and  market  oysters 
appear  in  the  catch  of  both  vessel  fisheries  and  shore 
and  boat  fisheries.  The  distribution  of  the  products 
appearing  in  both  the  vessel  and  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  is  shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


SPECIES  AND  CLASS  OF  FISHERIES.. 


Sea  bass 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Oysters,  market 

From  public  areas 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
From  private  areas 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


PEODVCTS  COMMON  TO 

VESSEL  FISHERIES 
AND  SHORE  AND 
BOAT  FISHERIES: 
1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


233,000 
226,000 
8,000 
10,053,000 
'3,484,000 
'1,125,000 
3  2,359,000 
•6,569,000 
'3,384,000 
"3,185,000 


Value. 


$14,000 

13,000 

500 

334,000 

121,000 
37,000 
84,000 

213,000 
81,000 

133,000 


1  498,000  bushels. 
'  161,000  bushels. 


'  337,000  bushels. 
*  938,000  bushels. 


»  483.000  bushels. 
«  455,000  bushels. 


Practically  all  of  the  sea  bass  was  taken  by  vessel 
fisheries.  The  large  factor  in  the  catch  of  both  classes 
of  fisheries  was  market  oysters,  of  which  the  vessel 
fisheries  reported  644,000  bushels,  valued  at  $117,000, 
and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  792,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $217,000. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — As  oysters  repre- 
sented the  greater  part  of  the  weight  and  value  of  the 
Georgia  fishery  product,  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  were  tine 
leading  forms  of  apparatus  of  capture.  Except  for 
hard  clams,  valued  at  $9,000,  the  entire  product  taken 
with  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  consisted  of  oysters.  All  the 
clams  reported  were  taken  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries. 

On  the  basis  of  weight  of  catch,  lines  were  next  in 
importance,  with  a  catch  of  1,810,000  pounds,  valued 


at  $74,000,  followed  by  gill  nets,  with  a  catch  of 
1,721,000  pounds,  valued  at  $213,000.  On  the  basis 
of  value  of  catch,  the  order  is  reversed.  The  total 
product  of  Georgia  fisheries,  exclusive  of  the  catch  by 
dredges  and  tongs,  was  4,571,000  pounds,  having  a 
value  of  $353,000.  Of  this  quantity,  Lines  and  gill  nets 
took  3,532,000  pounds,  valued  at  $287,000,  and  all 
the  remaining  varieties  of  apparatus  1,040,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $66,000.  Among  the  products  caught  by 
lines  the  red  snapper  held  first  rank,  with  a  weight  of 
880,000  pounds  and  a  value  of  $30,000.  Sea  bass  and 
groupers  also  stood  high  in  the  list.  The  gill-net 
capture,  all  by  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  was  chiefly 
shad.  The  principal  catch  with  seines  consisted  of 
prawn,  on  the  basis  of  quantity,  and  terrapin,  on  the 
basis  of  value. 

Oysters. — Oysters  were  of  greater  relative  impor- 
tance in  1902  than  in  either  1890  or  1897,  as  will  be 
seen  by  reference  to  the  tabular  statement  on  page 
110.  Between  1902  and  1908  the  oyster  industry 
made  large  gains,  but  the  increase  for  that  period  was 
not  so  great  as  that  for  the  previous  five  years.  The 
rapid  development  made  during  the  latter  period  and 
the  few  years  preceding  was  largely  the  result  of  the 
market  created  by  new  canneries.  Such  was  the 
growth  that  the  Commissioner  of  Fisheries  stated  in 
his  report  for  1902,  in  regard  to  Georgia,  that  there 
was  very  little  doubt  that  in  years  to  come  private 
oyster  culture  would  have  to  be  resorted  to  on  a  large 
scale  in  this  state  if  the  oyster  supply  were  to  be  main- 
tained.* Private  oyster  culture  had  been  well  started 
at  that  time,  but  no  statistics  of  its  extent  were  pre- 
sented. The  growth  of  this  enterprise  is  indicated  by 
the  table  on  page  113,  which  shows  that  in  1908  the 
product  from  the  private  areas  was  much  larger  than 
that  from  public  areas,  amounting  to  a  total  of 
952,000  bushels,  as  compared  with  only  507,000 
bushels  from  the  public  areas.  Except  for  the  results 
of  private  culture,  the  oyster  industry  apparently 
would  have  shown  a  loss  instead  of  a  gain  since  1902, 
as  the  product  from  public  areas  decreased  from 
1,224,000  bushels  in  1902  to  507,000  bushels  in  1908. 
In  considering  these  figures,  however,  allowance  must 
be  made  for  the  fact  that  wlule  no  returns  were  made 
for  private  areas  separately  in  1902,  a  considerable 
product  therefrom  appears  in  the  totals  for  that  year. 

In  each  class  of  fisheries  in  1908  oysters  from  private 
areas  exceeded  those  from  public  areas  both  in  quan- 
tity and  in  value. 

'  Statistics  of  the  Fisheries  of  the  South  Atlantic  States,  1902, 
p.  387. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

GEORGIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


113 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Oill  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

AU  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

14,828,000 

$701,000 

1,721,000 

1213,000 

1,810,000 

r4,ooo 

849,000 

$38,000 

277,000 

$14,000 

10,472,000 

$362,000 

Fish: 

32,000 

ti,000 

38,000 

280,000 

46,000 

151,000 
0,000 
7,200 

160,000 
3,500 

194,000 

14,000 

1,100 

233,000 

1,333,000 

64,000 

880,000 

140,000 

8,900 

100,000 

3,000 

7,100 

98,000 

196,000 

628,000 

41,000 

1,500 

•43,000 

•3,484,000 

»  6, 569, 000 

«ta,ooo 

'98,000 
8  700 

1,000 

600 

1,200 

15,000 

1,800 

6,100 
400 
400 

2,900 
200 

5,400 

600 

100 

14,000 

190,000 

3,700 

30,000 

12,000 

800 

7,000 
100 
300 

9,400 

7,500 
19,000 
21,000 

(«) 

9,400 

121,000 

213,000 
1,800 
2,800 
3,liO0 

13,000 

400 

15,000 
5,500 

500 
600 

4,000 

(') 

600 
2,000 
40,000 
14,000 

132,000 
6,000 

0) 

100 

2,500 

600 

4,200 
400 

35,000 

1,100 

600 
5,000 
4,600 

7,700 

(') 
500 

Catfish 

6,000 

300 

230,666 

12,000 

Croaker 

27,000 
11,000 

900 
400 

200 

Drum  (salt-water),  or  chan- 

SOO 

Eels 

5,000 

300 

2,200 

100 

160,000 

2,900 

Hiclcory  stiad 

3,500 

38,000 
2,000 

200 

1,000 
100 



Mullet 

75,000 

2,300 

9,000 

7,000 

800 

200 
400 
(') 

72,000 

2,000 

5,000 

300 

233,000 

200 
(«) 
14,000 

Pilie 

Shad . . . 

1,323,000 
28,000 

188,000 
1,700 

10,000 

1,500 

Sheepshead 

37,000 

880,000 

28,000 

2,000 

2,100 

30,000 

2,500 

200 



Squeteague 

108,000 

8,700 

3,000 

300 

500 
2,000 

100 

4,900 

400 

200 

Sturgeon 

100,000 
3,000 

7,000 
100 

Sunfish 

3,600 
72,000 

196,000 

100 
6,900 

7,500 

3,100 

200 

600 
1,200 

(') 

Whiting..  .  . 

25,000 

2,500 

100 

426,000 
41,000 

14,800 
21,000 

103,000 

5,200 

Turtles 

1,600 

(•) 

> 43, 000 

< 3,484,000 

'6,669,000 

•63,000 

'98,000 

«70O 

9,400 

Oysters,   market,   from  public 
areas . . . 

121,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas . . . 

213,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. 
Oysters,  seed,  from  private  areas . 
Skins,  otter 

1,800 

2,800 

3,600 

■  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  10,257,000  pounds,  valued  at  $348,000;  cast  nets,  187,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,900;  otter  traps,  700  pounds, 
valued  at  $3,600;  stop  nets,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,500;  catfish  traps,  5,000  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  9,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  and  spears,  2,200 
pounds,  valued  at  $100. 

'  Ix!ss  than  $100.  •  938,000  bushels.  '  14,000  bushels. 

>  5,400  bushels.  •  9,000  bushels.  »  400  skins. 

« 498,000  bushels. 


ILLINOIS. 

In  fishery  products  Illinois  ranked  fifteenth  among 
the  states  in  1908.  The  catch  of  this  state  included  a 
great  variety  of  species,  but  the  German  carp  repre- 
sented considerably  more  than  one-third  and  the  prod- 
ucts of  the  mussel  fisheries  almost  one-fourth  of  the 
total,  measured  by  value  of  products.  The  fishing 
grounds  of  the  state  are  the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  Riv- 
ers with  their  tributaries,  and  Lake  Michigan. 

The  following  statement  is  a  general  summary  of  the 
statistics  for  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 4, 439 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $281, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 272, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 295, 000 

Value  of  products 1, 436, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — During  the 
five  years  preceding  1908  a  great  impetus  was  given 
the  fisheries  of  Illinois.  The  increase  fa  the  catch  of 
German  carp  and  in  the  quantity  of  mussel  products 
obtained  was  marked.  Many  other  species  showed 
76786°— 11 8 


heavy  increases  and  a  few  species  were  reported  for 
the  first  time  at  the  census  of  1908.  The  increase  was 
general  throughout  all  the  fisheries  of  the  state. 

The  main  statistics  for  1908  and  for  1899,  as  reported 
by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  are  as  follows: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
niexi. 

VALUE  or  EQUtmENT. 

PEODUCTS. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats. 

Including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

4,359 
2,341 

$653,000 
188,000 

$281,000 
69,000 

$272,000 
119,000 

74,620,000 
29,668,000 

$1,436,000 
616,000 

1899 

Persons  employed. — The  following  table  gives  the 
statistics  of  the  persons  employed  in  the  fisheries  of 
Illinois,  by  district,  class  of  fisheries,  and  condition  of 
employment.  The  districts  into  which  the  fisheries 
are  grouped  are  those  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its 
tributaries,  the  Ohio  River  and  its  tributaries,  and 
Lake  Michigan.  The  district  first  mentioned  includes 
the  Illinois  River,  which  furnished  60  per  cent  of  the 
total  products  for  the  state. 


114 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Pro- 
prietors 
and  in- 
depend- 
ent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ployees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total  .. 

4,439 

13,060 

15 

1,364 

$344,000 

J9,000 

i»335,000 

Vessel   fish- 
eries.  

T  r  a  nsport- 
Ing  vessels. 

Shore  and 
boat  fish- 
eries  

61 

7 

4,291 
80 

13 
2 

3,045 

6 
9 

42 
5 

1,237 
80 

19,000 
1,100 

293,000 
30,000 

4,200 
4,800 

15,000 
1,100 

288,000 
30,000 

Mississippi  River  dis- 
trict.               

3,811 

2,551 

15 

1,245 

319,000 

9,000 

310,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  ves- 
sels  

20 

6 

3,716 
69 

476 

6 

1 

2,544 

6 
9 

8 

5 

1,163 
69 

66 

8,700 

1,100 

284,000 
26,000 

3,400 

4,200 
4,800 

4,500 
1,100 

Shore    and    boat 

279,000 

26,000 

Ohio  River  district.... 

420 

3,400 

Transporting  ves- 

1 
475 
152 

1 
419 

89 

Shore    and    boat 
fisheries.. 

56 
63 

3,400 

21,000 

3,400 

Lake  Michigan  district. 

21,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore    and    boat 
fisheries 

41 

100 
11 

7 

82 

34 

18 
11 

11,000 

5,600 
4,400 

11,000 
5,600 

Rhorfi,<!Tnoii  . , . 

4,400 

1  Exclusive  of  24  proprietors  not  fishing. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $16,000. 

The  fisheries  of  the  Illinois  River  gave  employment 
in  the  aggregate  to  2,497  persons,  or  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  total  number  for  the  state.  Of  these,  1,504 
were  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen,  6  were 
salaried  employees,  and  987  were  wage-earners. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  distribution 
among  the  three  districts  of  the  value  of  equipment 
and  other  capital  employed  in  the  Illinois  fisheries  is 
shown  in  the  following  table: 


value  of  equipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 

CLASS  Of  mVESTMENT. 

■ 

Total. 

Missis- 

^fv^e'r 
district. 

Ohio 

River 

district. 

Lalce 
Michi- 
gan 
district. 

Total 

$849,000 

$747,000 

$19,000 

$83,000 

47,000 
43,000 
33,000 

21,000 

18.000 

10,000 

7.500 

3,300 

2,000 

2,100 

500 

700 

221,000 

148,000 

1,200 

25,000 

Fisliing  (steam  and  motor) 

25  000 

23,000 

Outfit 

9.800 

4,600 

3,400 

2,900 

500 

1,200 

234,000 

155,000 

400 

69.000 

10,000 

272,000 

23,000 

249,000 

153,000 

142,000 

2,400 

1,200 
800 
800 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Other 

400 
5,500 
1,400 

Boats 

7,500 
5,100 

Sail 

400 

Row 

64,000 
9.100 
239,000 
5,300 
234,000 
130,000 
135,000 

4,100 

""'s'ibb' 

1,000 
1,000 

Other ■ 

24.000 

Vessel  fishenes 

18,000 

8,900 
3,400 

6,700 

Shore  and  accessory  properly 

19,000 

Cash  ..     .     . 

7,000 

The  number  and  tonnage  of  the  vessels  and  the 
number  of  boats  reported  for  1908  and  the  distribu- 


tion by  districts  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment: 


vessels  and  boats:  1908. 

class  of  craft. 

Total. 

Missis- 
district. 

Ohio 

River 

district. 

Lalte 
Michi- 
gan 
district. 

Vessels: 

Fishing- 
Number..     .              .         .     .. 

12 
127 

3 

23 

2 

4,222 

624 

8 

3,374 

216 

6 
29 

2 

18 

1 

3,678 

604 

7 

98 

Transporting— 

1 
5 
1 
472 
12 

72 

8 

Sail 

g 

2,860 
214 

460 

54 

Otlier    .  .           .        . 

2 

The  value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  of  floating  equip- 
ment, and  that  of  shore  and  accessory  property,  com- 
bined with  cash,  each  represents  about  a  third  of  the 
total  investment.  Of  the  investment  in  shore  and 
accessory  property,  $126,000  pertained  to  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  and  $26,000  to  vessel  fisheries  and  trans- 
porting vessels.  Of  the  cash  capital,  8115,000  was 
reported  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  $27,000 
by  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  total  investment  of  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  was  $725,000,  and  that  of 
vessel  fisheries  and  transporting  vessels  was  $124,000. 

Of  the  investment  in  floating  equipment  exclusive  of 
outfits,  $190,000,  or  over  70  per  cent,  represents  steam 
and  motor  boats. 

The  Ilhnois  River  fisheries  employed  $551,000,  or 
nearly  two-thirds  of  the  total  capital  for  the  state. 

The  number  and  distribution  of  the  various  kinds  of 
apparatus  of  capture,  as  reported  for  1908,  were  as 
follows: 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 

KIND. 

Total. 

Distributed  by  districts. 

Distributed  by  class 
of  fisheries. 

Missis- 
district. 

Ohio 

River 

district. 

Lake 
Michi- 
gan 
district. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

67 

152 

29.610 

4,135 

4 

361 

615 

8,865 

• 

67 

67 

Fish    baskets   and 

152 

28,536 

10 

152 

974 

440 
3,340 

29,070 

4,125 
4 

14 
2 

795 

4 

Seines  

341 

612 

8,865 

6 
1 

11 

0 

350 

Trammel  nets 

Traps,     ndiik     and 

609 
8.865 

Products,  by  species. — The  quantity  and  value  of  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state  are  given,  by  species  and 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  Table  1,  on  page  117. 

The  carp  and  mussel  fisheries  ranked  far  above  all 
of  the  others  in  value  and  together  contributed  65 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishing  product  for 
the  state. 

Products,  by  fisinng  grounds. — Tables  2,  3,  and  4, 
on  pages  118  and  119  sliow  the  products,  by  species  and 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


115 


apparatus  of  capture,  for  the  Mississippi  River,  the  Ohio 
River,  and  the  Lake  Michigan  districts,  respectively. 
The  following  table  shows  the  distribution  of  the 
value  of  the  chief  products  for  the  fishery  districts  of 
the  state: 


Total. 


Fish 

Carp,  German 

BulIaloQsli 

Catfish  and  bullheads . 

Black  bass 

Crappie 

Sunflsh 

Lalce  herring,  or  Cisco. 

Drum,  or  sheepshead. . 

Dogfish 

Lake  trout 

Perch,  yellow 

Paddlefish 

All  other 

Mussel  shells 

Pearls  and  slugs 

Skins,  muskrat  and  mink. 

Terrapin  and  turtles 

Frogs 


VALUE  OF  PEODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


11,436,000 


,032,000 

674,000 

117,000 

96,000 

57,000 

35,000 

31,000 

28,000 

20,000 

18,000 

13,000 

12,000 

12,000 

21,000 

184,000 

170,000 

20,000 

21,000 

6,800 


Mississippi 

Kiver 

district. 


$1,242,000 


953, 

m<, 

113, 
90, 
57, 
34, 
31, 


11, 

17, 
142, 
98, 
20, 
21, 
6, 


Ohio 

River 

district. 


$136,000 


22,000 

5,500 

3,800 

6,300 

100 

100 

100 


3,900 


600 

1,600 

42,000 

72,000 


Lake 
Michigan 
district. 


$58,000 


68,000 

2,600 

100 


(') 


28,000 

lOO 

200 

13,000 

12,000 


2,000 


>  Less  than  $100. 

The  most  important  tributary  of  the  Mississippi 
River  is  the  Illinois  River.  In  1894  the  fishery 
product  of  the  Illinois  River  was  about  3,000  tons, 
valued  at  $162,000,  and  formed  about  one-half  of 
the  yield  of  the  Mississippi  River  district.  In  1899 
it  formed  about  two-thirds,  amounting  to  7,000  tons, 
valued  at  $382,000,  and  in  1908  it  formed  more  than 
seven-tenths,  amounting  to  23,000  tons,  valued  at 
$860,000.  The  chief  product  of  the  Illinois  River  is 
German  carp.  The  carp  from  tliis  river  in  1908 
formed  nearly  three-fourths  of  the  carp  product  for 
the  state,  and  was  valued  at  $412,000,  which  is  nearly 
as  large  as  the  combined  value  of  all  the  other  fishery 
products  of  tliis  river. 

The  mussel  products  of  the  Illinois  River  were 
valued  at  $139,000,  or  nearly  58  per  cent  of  the  value 
of  the  mussel  products  of  the  Mississippi  River  dis- 
trict, and  nearly  40  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  mussel 
products  of  the  state. 

The  fisheries  of  the  Ohio  River  district  have 
increased  to  a  considerable  extent,  as  is  shown  by  the 
following  comparative  statement: 


TEAR. 

FISHERY  PRODUCTS  Of 
THE      OHIO      RIVER 
DISTRICT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908.. 

7,424.000 
380,000 
940,000 

$136  000 

1899 

20.000 

1894.. 

30,000 

Prior  to  1908  no  mussel  product  entered  into  the 
total  for  this  district.     The  extent  of  such  products 


in  1908  accounts  almost  entirely  for  the  large  gains 
shown  for  that  year,  as  compared  with  the  earlier 
years.  Carp,  moreover,  which  in  1908  contributed 
one-fourth  of  the  value  of  the  fish  product,  formed 
only  a  small  part  of  the  product  at  each  of  the  pre- 
vious canvasses.  In  1899  and  in  1894  drum,  buffalo 
fish,  and  catfish  were  leading  species. 

The  increase  in  the  products  of  the  lake  fisheries 
since  the  last  canvass  has  been  relatively  large,  as  is 
shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


TEAB. 



FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF 
LAKE  MICHIGAN  DIS- 
TRICT. 

Quantity       value 
(pounds).  1    ^^'"*- 

1908 

1,176,000  i      $58,000 
598,000  .        24,000 
822,000  1        24,000 

1 

1903.. 

1890 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  distribution  of 
the  product  between  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  by  districts  is  shown  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


FISHERY  products:  1908. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS  OF  FISHERIES. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distri- 
bution. 

Total 

74,020,000 

100 

$1,436,000 

100 

2,983,000 

4 

89,000 

6 

Mississippi  River  distiict 

Lake  Michigan  district 

2,484,000 
500,000 

71,636,000 

3 

1- 

96 

61,000 
28,000 

1,347,000 

4 

2 

94 

Mississippi  River  district 

Ohio  River  district     . 

63,536,000 

7,424.000 

677,000 

85 
10 
1 

1,181,000 
136,000 
30,  COO 

82 
9 

2 

The  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  comprised 
all  but  a  small  portion  of  the  entire  state  product. 

The  products,  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture, 
are  given  for  the  vessel  fisheries  in  Table  5,  on  page 
119,  and  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  Table  6,  on 
page  120.  The  former  table  also  distributes  the  prod- 
ucts between  the  two  districts  which  had  vessel  fish- 
eries— the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Lake  Michigan 
districts. 

By  deducting  the  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  of 
the  Mississippi  River  and  Lake  Michigan  districts,  as 
given  in  Table  5,  on  page  119,  from  the  corresponding 
items  for  all  fishery  products  of  those  districts,  as 
given  in  Tables  2  and  4,  respectively,  on  pages  118 
and  119,  the  specific  products  of  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  each  of  these  districts  can  be  ascer- 
tained. All  of  the  products  of  the  Ohio  River  district, 
presented  in  Table  3,  belong  to  the  shore  and  boat 
fi.sheries. 


116 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  distribution 
by  apparatus  of  capture  of  the  products  of  chief  value 
for  the  respective  districts  is  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


VALUE  OF  PBODUCTS:  1908. 

KIND  or  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

Rivor 

district. 

Ohio 

River 
district. 

Lalie 
Michigan 
district. 

Total 

Jl, 436, 000 

$1,242,000 

»136,000 

$58,000 

460,000 
355,000 
330,000 
151,000 
50,000 
51,000 
20,000 
12,000 

465,000 

241,000 

319,000 

151,000 

48,000 

200 

20,000 

9,000 

2,000 

114.000 

12,000 

400 

7,900 

2,800 

Trammfil  i)«t,<i  „  . 

(') 

Gill  nets.                       .  . 

51,000 

Traps 

All  other 

3,000 

'  Less  than  $100. 


Crowfoot  dredges,  which  are  employed  in  the  mus- 
sel fisheries,  had  the  largest  yield  in  weight  and  the 
second  in  value,  while  seines  had  the  largest  in  value 
and  the  second  in  weight.  Fyke  nets  were  third  in 
both  weight  and  value  of  catch.  Products  valued  at 
about  80  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  fishery  prod- 
ucts were  taken  by  these  three  classes  of  apparatus. 
Gill-net  fishing  is  practically  confined  to  Lake  Michi- 
gan, where  nearly  nine-tenths  of  the  product  for  1908 
was  taken  in  nets  of  this  class. 

German  carp. — The  value  of  the  catch  of  German 
carp,  $574,000,  formed  40  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
entire  fishery  product  of  the  state,  and  was  consider- 
ably more  than  the  combined  value  of  all  of  the  other 
food  fishes.  The  carp  taken  weighed  11,000  short 
tons,  or  more  than  one  and  one-half  times  the  weight 
of  all  other  food  fishes  taken  in  the  state.  A  carp 
product  was  reported  by  every  district,  but  much  the 
largest  amount  was  taken  in  the  Mississippi  Kiver 
district.  Of  the  total  for  that  district,  7,700  tons, 
valued  at  $412,000,  were  taken  in  the  Illinois  River. 

Approximately  three-fourths  of  the  carp  reported 
at  previous  canvasses  as  caught  in  the  Mississippi 
River  district  came  from  the  Illinois  River.  One-half 
or  more  of  the  growth  in  the  fishery  product  of  the 
state  can  be  credited  to  the  growth  in  the  catch  of 
carp.  In  1894  buffalo,  catfish,  and  fresh-water  drum 
had  a  heavier  and  more  valuable  yield  than  carp,  but 
in  1899  carp  led  for  the  first  time. 


YEAK. 

GERMAN-CAEP 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds;. 

Value. 

1908 

21,642,000 

7,660.000 

9.896,000 

860,000 

$674,000 
176,000 
244,000 

1903 

1899 

1894 

The  German  carp  was  introduced  into  the  Illinois 
River  as  late  as  1880.  At  first  it  was  despised,  and 
when  a  fish  of  this  species  was  caught  inadvertently 
it  was  generally  thrown  back  into  the  river.  These 
early  years  of  unmolested  opportunity,  given  to  a  fish 
of  such  fecundity  and  hardihood,  produced  large  re- 
sults later.  Much  hostihty  was  manifested  toward  the 
carp  by  sportsmen,  and  no  demand  for  it  as  a  food 
was  apparent  for  some  years  after  its  introduction. 
But  the  Illinois  commission  began  a  vigorous  defense 
of  the  carp  and  conducted  what  was  almost  a  campaign 
of  education,  instructing  sportsmen  in  the  habits  of 
the  carp  and  fish  dealers  in  its  food  value.  Recipes  for 
preparing  the  flesh  for  table  use  and  for  making  jellies 
and  other  delicacies  were  published,  testimony  as  to 
the  epicurean  qualities  of  these  preparations  was  col- 
lected and  printed,  menus  containing  carp  served  in 
various  ways  at  famous  hostelries  were  lithographed 
and  distributed,  and  statistics  of  the  production  and 
consumption  of  the  fish  in  other  countries  were  made 
kno^vn.  In  a  relatively  short  time  fishermen  turned 
their  attention  to  the  carp,  and  as  early  as  1899  the 
weight  of  the  carp  taken  was  nearly  equal  to  that  of 
all  other  food  fishes  combined. 

Carp  are  taken  with  a  great  variety  of  apparatus, 
although  one-half  of  the  catch  was  with  seines.  Con- 
trary to  the  general  impression,  lines  are  efficacious  in 
their  capture,  and  of  the  commercial  product,  carp  to 
the  value  of  $17,000  were  so  taken. 

Mussels. — The  mussel  fisheries  had  a  product  sec- 
ond in  value  to  that  of  carp.  The  value  of  the  shells, 
pearls,  and  slugs  obtained  in  the  state  amounted  to 
$355,000,  or  25  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  products. 
Of  this  amount,  $114,000  is  credited  to  the  fisheries  of 
the  Ohio  River  district  and  $241,000  to  those  of  the 
Mississippi  River  district.  The  value  of  the  products 
of  the  Illinois  River,  amounting  to  $139,000,  formed 
the  larger  portion  of  the  value  reported  for  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  district.  The  increase  in  the  yield  of 
mussels  was  even  more  rapid  than  that  in  the  catch  of 
carp.  The  product  in  1894,  1899,  and  1908  was  as 
follows : 


YXAB. 

MUSSEL  PBODUCTS. 

Quantity 
(tons). 

Value. 

Shells. 

Pearls  and 
slugs. 

1908 

20,000 

2.500 

24 

$184,000          ti7n  fYW 

1899 

43,000 
700 

' 

1894 

Buffalo  fish. — The  buffalo  fish,  which  led  before  carp 
attained  first  place,  ranked  second  in  value  among  the 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


117 


food  fishes  in  1908,  and  its  value  formed  8  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  products.  Buffalo  fish  are  taken  in 
all  districts,  but  90  per  cent  of  the  catch  in  1908  was 
from  the  Mississippi  River  district.  The  yield  of  buf- 
falo fish  decreased  in  quantity,  but  a  recovery  in  prices 
arrested  the  decrease  in  the  value  of  the  catch.  Buffalo 
fish  are  taken  jirincipally  with  seines  and  fyke  nets. 
The  product  for  1894,  1899,  and  1908  is  shown  below: 


BUFFALO-FISH 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

3,042,000 
4,051,000 
5,817,000 

tin,  000 

1899 

112,000 

1894 

146,000 

Catfish. — Catfish  was  fourth  in  importance,  and  the 
product  for  1908  and  prior  years  is  shown  in  the  next 
column. 


CATFISH  PEODUCT. 

TEAB. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,044,000 
1,570,000 
1,962,000 

(96,000 

1899                                                   

69,000 

1894 

82,000 

Black  bass. — Black  bass  is  a  valuable  food  fish  that 
is  taken  chiefly  in  the  Mississippi  River  district. 
Nearly  one-half  of  the  catch  is  by  seines.  That  there 
has  been  a  notable  increase  in  the  quantity  caught  is 
shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement: 


BLACK-BASS  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                   .   .                   

532,000 
126,000 
97,000 

$57,000 

1899 

11,000 

1894                                          .   .                 

8.000 

Table  1.— ILLINOIS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPEaES. 

Seines. 

Fyke  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

.\11  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantitv 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

74,620,000 

SI, 436, 000 

15,945,000 

$460,000 

11.370,000 

$330,000 

5,100,000 

$151,000 

1,242.000 

$56,000 

962,000 

$51,000 

40,001,000 

$387,000 

Fish: 

532,000 

3,042.000 

21,642,000 

2.044,000 
1,281,000 

1.370.000 

666.000 
31,000 
598,000 
150,000 

27.000 
402.000 
238.000 

14,000 

14,000 
6,200 

l.SO.OOO 
281,000 

1,714.000 
6.900 
13.000 
2,900 

2.5.000 

205,000 

306,000 

39,809,000 

57,000 
117,000 
574,000 

96.000 
35,000 

18,000 

20,000 

1,800 

28.000 

13.000 

600 
12.000 
12.000 
1,100 

1,,500 
800 

7,300 
0,400 

31,000 
300 
800 
100 

6,800 
13,000 
8,100 
184,000 
170,000 
6,000 
14,000 

220,000 
1,227,000 
10,957,000 

811,000 
575,000 

702,000 

167,000 
7,200 

25,000 

49,000 

291,000 

34,000 
18,000 

9,100 

4,700 
40O 

100,000 
1,153.000 
6,891,000 

625.000 
515,000 

485,000 

312,000 
12,000 

9,900 
44,000 
185,000 

29,000 
13,000 

6,000 

9,700 
600 

114,000 

598.000 

3,175,000 

319,000 
174,000 

162,000 

106,000 
6,600 

11,000 
22,000 
81,000 

15,000 
5,000 

2,200 

2,800 
30O 

98,000 
62.000 
604,000 

283,000 
16,000 

20,000 

76,000 

5,400 

300 

100 

500 

400 

21,000 

3,400 

11.000 
4,200 

26,000 
1,400 

9,500 
200 

11,000 

2,400 

17,000 

17,000 
700 

300 

2,800 
500 

m 
m 

m 

900 
300 

1.300 
600 

1,100 

m 

300 

(') 

300 

1,800 
2,200 

500 
.      200 

400 

1,800 

% 
100 

(=) 
(=) 

m 

100 

200 

800 
13,000 

5.400 
400 

500 

2,700 

100 

24,000 

2,300 

1,000 

(') 

Buffalo  fish 

\4 

Carp,  German 

Catfish     and     bull- 
heads  

Crappie 

Dogfish 

400 

200 
(') 

100 

Drum  (fresh-water), 

or  shcepshead 

Eels 

Lake  herring,  orcisco. 

573.000 
148,000 

26,000 

27,000 
12,000 

600 

200 

LiuR,  or  eelpout 

Paddlefish 

m 

289,000 

8,700 

84,000 

2,300 

30,000 

200 

2,600 

400 
600 

79,000 
74,000 

241,000 
2,800 

1,100 

m 

200 

3,800 
1,800 

4,600 
(=) 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel.... 

Pike    perch    (wall  - 

193,000 
400 

W 
100 

200 
2,900 

200 

100 

9,300 

1,600 

10,000 

(') 

100 

500 
100 

25,000 
200 

1,400 

5,000 

1,700 
400 

4.5,000 
72,000 

696,000 
2,500 

300 

100 

(') 

1,600 
1,300 

13.000 
100 

2,300 

900 
900 

30,000 
128,000 

767,000 
1,200 

200 

100 
100 

800 
3,000 

13,000 
100 

Rock  bass 

Sturgeon  and  caviar 

Suckers 

2,200 
200 

100 

Sunflsh.  or  bream.... 
White  bass 

m 

Whitefish 

3,500 
1,300 

25,000 

300 

All  other 

(=) 

6,800 

79,000 
88,000 

3,000 
2,400 

123,000 
141,000 

10,000 
3,700 

3,800 
11,000 

100 
300 

Turtles 

200 

(') 

66,000 
39,809,000 

1,700 

Mussel  shells 

184,000 

170,000 

6  000 

•Skins,  mink 

»  1,900 
"17,000 

M.900 
•17,000 

Skins,  muskrat 

1 

14,000 

■"      "T" 





I  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges,  etc.,  39,809,000  pounds,  valued  at  $55,000;  traps,  19,000 pounds,  valued  at  $20,000;  dip  nets,  35,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $1,800;  spears,  08,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,800;  pound  nets,  32.000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  fish  baskets  and  traps,  13,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  firearms,  600 
pounds,  valued  at  8109;  and  minor  apparatus,  24,{X)0  pounds,  valued  at  $6,700. 

a  \^ss  than  $100.  »  3.800  skins. 

«  Loss  than  100  pounds.  •  50,000  skins. 

*  Includes  1,300  pounds  of  caviar  and  sturgeon  eggs,  valued  at  $800. 


118 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2 ILLINOIS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

1 

PSODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Fyke  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

06,020,000 

$1,242,000 

15,766,000 

5455,000 

U. 088,000 

$319,  Odb 

5,088.000 

$151,000 

1.059,000 

$48,000 

7,000 

$200 

33,012,000 

$270,000 

Fish: 

532,000 
2,949.000 
21,390,000 

1,943,000 

1,279,000 
1,359,000 

569,000 
30,000 

374,000 
13,000 

12,000 
4,800 

161,000 

240,000 

1,712,000 

6,900 

25,000 

205,000 

306,000 

32,887,000 

57,000 
113,000 
566,000 

90,000 

34,000 
17,000 

10,000 
1,800 

11,000 
1,100 

1,400 
700 

6,900 

5,100 

31,000 

300 

6,800 
13,000 

8,100 
142,000 
98,000 

6,000 
14,000 

220,000 
1,214.000 
10.830.000 

805.000 

575,000 
092,000 

156.000 
7,200 

283.000 
5.000 

1,700 
300 

45.000 

67.000 

696,000 

2,600 

25,000 
48,000 
288,000 

34,000 

10,000 
9,000 

4.300 
400 

8,600 
300 

100 

m 

1,600 

1,200 

13.000 

100 

100.000 
1.094,000 
6.804.000 

601,000 

514,000 
485,000 

259,000 
12,000 

62.000 
2.300 

300 
100 

25,000 

99,000 

766,000 

1,200 

9.800 
41.000 
181.000 

28.000 

13.000 
6,000 

7.400 
600 

1,800 
200 

700 

2,200 

13,000 

100 

114.000 

590,000 

3,175,000 

319,000 

174,000 
162,000 

106.000 
6,500 

30,000 
2.600 

400 
200 

79,000 

72.000 

241.000 

2.800 

11,000 
21,000 
81,000 

15,000 

5.000 
2,200 

2,800 
300 

1,100 
200 

m 

3,800 
l.SOO 
4.000 

m 

98,000 

49,000 

571,000 

212,000 

16,000 
20,000 

48,000 
5,300 

400 
3,400 

9,900 
4,200 

11,000 

l.-lOO 

9,500 

200 

11.000 

1,900 

15,000 

13,000 

700 
300 

1,600 
500 

m 

300 

1,200 
600 

800 
(') 
300 

300 

1,800 
2,000 

500 

200 
400 

500 

(•) 

(') 

200 

300 

8,000 

5,400 

400 
500 

300 

300 

200 

(') 
(•) 

m 

Buffalo  fish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish    and    buU- 

Crapple..   - 

Dogffih 

Drum  (fresh-water), 

orsheepshead 

Eels 

PaddleQsh 

Pilte and  pickerel... 

Pike    perch   (waU- 
eyed  pike) 

Rock  bass 

100 

200 
500 
200 
100 

Sturgeon  and  caviar 
and  sturgeon  eggs ' 

100 
200 

(•) 
(•) 

Sunfish. 

White  bass.., 

Frogs 

25,000 

6,800 

Terrapin 

79,000 
88,000 

3,000 
2,400 

i23,666 

141,000 

10,000 
3,700 

3,800 
11,000 

100 
300 

Turtles 

200 

(') 

60,000 
32,887,000 

1  700 

142,000 
98  000 

Pearls  and  slugs 

Skins,  mink 

<1,900 
'17,000 

<  1.900 
'17,000 

6,000 
14,000 

Ptins,  miKlrrftt 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges,  etc.,  32,887,000  pounds,  valued  at  $211,000;  traps.  19,000  pounds,  valued  at  $20,000;  spears,  67,000  iraunds, 
valued  at  $1,800;  flsh  baskets  or  traps,  13,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  firearms,  600  pounds,  valued  at  $100;  and  minor  apparatus,  24,000  pounds,  valued  at  16,700. 
'  hess  than  $100.  <  4,000  skins. 

•  Includes  1,300  pounds  of  caviar  and  sturgeon  eggs,  valued  at  $800.  s  50,200  skins. 

Table  3.— ILLINOIS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  OHIO  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PKODHCT  CADQHT  BY— 

SrECIES. 

Seines.             j          Fyke  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Crowfoot  dredges,  etc. 

Quantitv 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(iwunds). 

Value. 

Quantity, 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

7,424,000 

$136,000 

47,000 

$2,000 

282,000 

$12,000 

11,000 

$400 

162,000 

$7,900 

6,922,000 

$114,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

600 

91,000 

132,000 

100,000 

1,600 

93,000 

100 

28,000 

2,000 

1,300 
19,000 
32,000 

1,500 

6,922,000 

100 
3,800 
5,500 
6,300 

100 

3,900 

(') 
600 
100 

100 

400 

1,000 

100 

42,000 
72,000 

600 

59,000 

86,000 

24,000 

1,100 

53,000 

100 

2,500 

3,600 

1,000 

100 

2,200 

Buffalo  flsh 

10,000 

12,000 

6,000 

500 

10,000 

400 
500 
400 
(') 

400 

7,800 
400 

300 

(') 

13,000 
33,000 
70,000 

600 
1,400 
4,300 

Carp.  German 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Grapple 

Drum     (fresh-water),    or 
sheepshead 

500 

(•) 

29,000 
100 

1,200 
(') 

Eels 

Paddlefish 

6,100 

100 

22,000 
600 

800 

4,400 

29,000 

1,300 

500 

(') 

100 
100 
900 
100 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

1,400 

100 

Rock  bass 

100 

(') 

400 

(') 

Sturgeon 

15,000 

300 

Suckers 

1,.500 
200 

(') 
(') 

2,000 

100 

Sunflsh 

Mussel  shells 

6,922,000 

42,000 
72,000 

Pearls  and  slugs 

1 

1 1 

1  Less  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  4.— ILLINOIS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


119 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAOQHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Dip  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,176,000 

158.000 

132,000 

$2,800 

965,000 

$61,000 

35,000 

11,800 

54,000 

$2,200 

120,000 

10,000 

3,700 

698.000 

150,000 

27,000 
238,000 

8,600 
13,000 

6,100 

2,600 

200 

100 

28.000 

13,000 

600 
12,000 
300 
800 
300 

115,000 
10,000 

2,500 
200 

200 

(») 

4,400 

100 

400 

(') 

Dogfish 

Dram  (fresh-water), or  shecpshead. 

1,300 
573,000 
148,000 

20,000 

193,000 

2,400 

9,300 

2,000 

27.000 
12,000 

500 
10,000 
100 
500 
100 

2,000 
1,400 

100 

100 

400 
23,000 
2,400 

1,000 

22,000 

1,200 

3,600 

100 

'''    700 

200 

500 

24,000 

800 

'7,300 
(') 

(') 

900 

Suckers 

Whiteflsh 

4,000 

100 

(') 

300 

Another..           

2,000 

100 

2,000 

100 

(') 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Pound  nets,  32,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  and  lines,  21,000  pounds,  valued  at  $900. 
Table  5.— ILLINOIS— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


<  Less  than  $100. 


PaODtJCT  CAUGHT  BY 

- 

SPECIES  AKD  DISTRICT. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke 

nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

2,983,000 

$89,000 

2,012,000 

$47,000 

495,000 

$28,000 

439,000 

$13,000 

33,000 

$1,000 

4,700 

$200 

Fish: 

204,000 

1,975,000 

121,000 

51,000 

30,000 

13,000 

5,000 

321,000 

119,000 

26,000 

4,700 

27,000 

12,000 
50,000 
6,200 
6,800 

000 
9,600 

2,484,000 

7.500 

40,000 

3,500 

1,400 

400 

400 

200 

16,000 

10,000 

600 

100 

1,300 

40O 

1,200 

300 

200 

m 

200 
61,000 

173,000 

1,632,000 

101,000 

34,000 

4,500 
9,700 
3,000 

6,200 

36,000 

2,600 

900 

100 
300 
200 

28,000 

323,000 

19,000 

17,000 

25,000 
2,700 
1,000 

1,100 

9,100 

800 

SOO 

300 
100 
100 

4.000 

20,000 

2,000 

600 

1,000 
1,000 
1,000 

100 
600 
100 

(') 

(») 
(') 
100 

Dogfish 

' 

Eels                          ...              

321,000 

119,000 
26,000 

16,000 

10,000 
600 

100 

(') 



3,200 

lOO 

1,100 

m 

400 

m 

23,000 

1,100 

4,000 

200 

11,000 
30,000 

300 

700 

400 
19,000 

m 

600 

400 
600 

Siinnsh 

Whiteflsh 

6,200 
1,300 

300 
100 

All  other .        .                  

2,600 

100 

2,600 

100 

400 

(•) 

600 

(») 

8,000 
2,012,000 

200 
47,000 

200 
439,000 

13,000 

1,400 
33,000 

1,000 

Mississippi  River  district 

600 

(») 

Fish: 

204,000 
1,975,000 

121,000 
51,000 
30,000 

13,000 
6,000 
4.700 
12,000 
50,000 
5,500 

600 
9,600 

500,000 

7,600 

46,000 

3,500 

1,400 

400 

400 
200 
100 
400 
1,200 
200 

(=) 
200 

28,000 

173,000 
1,632,000 

101,000 

34,000 

•      4,500 

9,700 
3,000 
3,200 
11.000 
30.000 
2,600 

6,200 
36,000 

2,600 
900 
100 

300 
200 
100 
300 
700 
100 

28,000 
323,000 
19,000 
17,000 
25,000 

2,700 
1,000 
1,100 
400 
19,000 
2,500 

1,100 

9,100 

800 

600 

300 

100 
100 

f^ 
600 
100 

4,000 

20,000 

2,000 

600 

1,000 

1,000 

1,000 

400 

400 

600 

400 

100 
600 
100 

m 
m 

100 
(1\ 

?2) 

(') 

Carj^.  German . .                          .... 

Crappie .        

Drum  (iresh-water),  or  sheepshead 

Eds                

Paddlofish 

Sunnsh                                        

All  other 



600 

(•) 

Ten^pin        .               

8,000 

200 

200 

(') 

1,400 

(") 

Lake  Michigan  district 

496,000 

28,000 

4,100 

200 

Lake  herring  

321,000 

119,000 

25,000 

27,000 

6,200 

16,000 
10,000 

SOO 
1,300 

.^iflO 

321,000 

119,000 

25,000 

23,000 

6,200 

1,300 

16,000 

10.000 

600 

1,100 

30O 

100 

100 

(') 

4,000 

200 

Whiteflsh 

All  other 

1.300  1         100 

i               i 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  (allows:  Lines,  4,100  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  600  pounds,  valued  at  less  than  $100.       >  Less  than  $100. 


120 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— ILLINOIS— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PBODUCI  CAnOHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Fyke  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

71,636,000 

»1, 347,000 

13,933.000 

»412,000 

10,931,000 

1318,000 

5,067,000 

$150,000 

1,238,000 

$56,000 

467,000 

S24.000 

40,001,000 

$387,000 

Fish: 

532,000 

2,838,000 

19,007,000 

1,922,000 

1,229,000 
1,339,000 

652,000 
26,000 
278,000 

32,000 

2,400 

398,000 

211,000 

13,000 

14,000 
6,200 

108,000 

276.000 

1,664,000 
6,900 
6,000 
1,700 

24,000 

196,000 

306,000 

39,809,000 

57,000 
109,000 
529,000 

92,000 

33.000 
17,000 

20,000 
1.500 
13,000 

2,500 

100 

12,000 

11,000 

1,100 

1,500 
800 

7,000 

6,300 

29,000 
300 
500 
100 

6,800 
13,000 
8,100 
184,000 
170,000 
6,000 
14,000 

220,000 
1,0.'')4,000 
9,325,000 

710,000 

542,000 
698,000 

157,000 
4,200 

25,000 

42,000 

255.000 

32,000 

15,000 
9,100 

4,400 
200 

100,000 
1,125,000 
6,568.000 

607,000 

497,000 
460,000 

309,000 
11,000 

9,900 
43,000 
176.000 
28,000 

13.000 
6,700 

9,600 
500 

114,000 

594,000 

3,155.000 

317,000 

174,000 
161,000 

105,000 
5,500 
(») 

11,000 
21.000 
80,000 
15,000 

5,000 
2,100 

2,800 
300 
(') 

98,0(JO 
62.000 
604,000 
283,000 

Ifi.OOO 
20,000 

76,000 

5,400 

300 

11,000 
2,400 
17,000 
17,000 

700 
300 

2,800 
500 
(») 

300 
1,800 
2,200 

500 

200 
400 

1,800 

(") 
100 
100 

(>) 
(') 

100 

200 

800 

13,000 

5,400 

400 
600 

2,700 

100 

25,000 

2,300 
1,000 

m 
m 

400 
200 

(') 
(1) 

Buffalo  fish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Dogfish 

Drum  (fresh-water), 
or  sheepshead 

100 

(•) 

700 

hake  herring 

252,000 

29,000 
1,000 

12,000 

2,300 
(») 

200 

Ling,  or  eelpout 

500 

400 

17,000 

3,400 

11.000 
4,200 

26,000 

1.400 

9,500 
200 

700 
300 

1,300 
600 

1,100 

(') 

300 

C) 

(■) 

286,000 

8,600 

83,000 

2,200 

29,000 

200 

2,400 

400 
600 

78,000 

74,000 

240,000 
2,800 

1,100 
200 

(') 
(') 

3,800 

1,800 

4.600 
(') 

Perch,  yellow 

Pilie  and  plclcerel — 

Pike   peftsh     (wall- 

169,000 
400 

(') 
100 

200 

2,900 

200 

100 

3,100 

400 

8,900 
C) 

(') 
(') 

m 

100 

(•) 
(') 

200 
(') 

25,000 
200 

1,400 

4,800 

1,700 
400 

34,000 

70,000 

666,000 
2,600 

300 

100 
(') 

1,300 

1,300 

12,000 
100 

2,200 

900 
900 

29,000 

120,000 

748,000 
1,200 

200 

100 
100 

800 

3,000 

12,000 
100 

(') 

Sturgeon  and  caviar 

and  sturgeon  eggs.  < 

Suclcers,     including 

2,200 
200 

100 

m 

White  bass 

Whitefish 

3,  .WO 
1,300 

24,000 

300 

AH  other 

6,800 

71.000 
88,000 

2,800 
2,400 

122.000 
141,000 

10.000 
3,700 

2,400 
11,000 

100 
300 

200 

(•) 

60,000 
39,809,000 

1,700 

Mussel  shells 

184.000 

170,000 

Skins,  mink- . 

»1,900 
•17,000 

'1,900 
•17,000 

6,000 

14,000 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges^  etc.,  39,809,000  pounds,  valued  at  $355,000;  traps,  19,000  pounds,  valued  at  $20,000;  dip  nets,  35,000 

Eounds,  valued  at  $1,800;  spears,  68.000  poimds,  valued  at  $1,800;  pound  nets,  32,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  fish  baskets  and  traps,  13,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400; 
rearms,  600  pounds,  valued  at  $100;  and  minor  apparatus,  24,000  pounds,  valued  at  $6,700. 

"  Less  than  $100.  '  3,800  skins. 

>  Less  than  100  poimds.  •  50,000  skins. 

'  Includes  1,300  pounds  of  caviar  and  sturgeon  eggs,  valued  at  $800. 

INDIANA. 

The  fisheries  of  the  northern  part  of  Indiana  are  car- 
ried on  in  Lake  Michigan,  and  those  of  the  southern 
part  in  the  Ohio  Eiver  and  its  tributaries,  the  Wabash, 
White,  and  other  rivers.  The  extent  of  the  industry 
in  this  state  is  briefly  indicated  in  the  following  state- 
ment: 

Number  of  persons  employed 986 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $23, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 28, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 22, 000 

Value  of  products 223, 000 

Comparison  with  frevious  canvasses. — A  compaiison 
of  the  returns  of  this  census  with  those  of  earlier  can- 
vasses shows  that  there  has  been  a  reaction  from  the 
decrease  in  the  products  which  was  apparent  in  both 
fishery  districts  of  Indiana  in  1899.  This  reaction  is 
due  almost  entirely  to  the  recent  development  of  the 
mussel  fisheries.  The  following  tabular  statement 
compares  the  figures  for  1908  with  the  figures  reported 
for  former  years: 


Persons 
employed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQXJIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

PISTBICT  AND  TEAB. 

Total. 

Vessels 
and  boats, 
including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Indiana: 

1908 

1899 

972 

459 

$S2,000 
37,000 

$23,000 
14,000 

$28,000 
23,000 

15,507,000 
1,544,000 

$223,000 
72,000 

Lake    Michigan    dis- 
trict: 
1908 

76 
36 
50 

896 
409 

30,000 
11,000 
18,000 

22,000 
i9_non 

14,000 
3,200 
7,600 

9,200 
6,800 
7,500 

16,000 
7,800 
11,000 

13,000 
12,000 
16,000 

622,000 
310,000 
593,000 

14,886,000 

951,000 

2,505,000 

41,000 

1903 

11,000 

1899 

16,000 

Ohio  River  district: 
1908 

182,000 

1899 

65,000 

1894 

889   ''  'Tn'.rm 

124,000 

Persons  employed. — The  statistics  of  the  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  are  given  in  the 
following  tabular  statement.  The  greater  number 
were  independent  fishermen.  The  low  average  wages 
paid  to  all  classes  of  wage-earners  in  the  Ohio  River 
district  and  to  those  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  Lake  Michigan  indicate  the  incidental  or 
intermittent  character  of  the  employment. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


121 


PERSONS  emploved: 

1908. 

Number. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Wase- 
carners. 

Wages. 

Total 

986 

'873 

113 

S $18, 000 

7 

965 

14 

3 

870 

4 

95 

14 

3,400 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

12,000 

2,800 

Lcike  Michigan  district  . 

80 

49 

31 

13,000 

Vessel  fisheries  . 

7 

69 

4 

!)0« 

3 

46 

4 
23 

4 

82 

3,400 

7,900 

Shoresmen 

2,100 

Ohio  River  district 

824 

5,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

896 
10 

824 

72 
10 

4,400 

Shoresmen. . . 

600 

1  Exclusive  of  four  proprietors  not  fishing. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $1,200. 

Eguipment  and  other  capital. — The  next  tabular 
statement  gives  the  value  of  the  investment  in  the 
Indiana  fisheries,  with  its  distribution  between  the 
Lake  Michigan  and  the  Oliio  River  districts. 


value  of  equipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 

Total, 

Lake  Michi- 
gan district. 

Ohio  River 

district. 

Total 

$74,000 

$51,000 

$24,000 

7,700 
6,700 
1,000 

16,000 
6,800 
500 
7,200 
1,100 

28,000 
3,200 

25,000 

18,000 
4,900 

7,700 

6,700 

1,000 

6,400 

4,300 

500 

600 

1,100 

16,000 

3,200 

13,000 

16,000 

4,800 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Beats 

9,200 
2,500 

Sail 

Row 

6,600 

Other 

13,000 

Vessel  fisheries.   . 

13,000 
1,700 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash.. 

(') 

1  Less  than  $100. 


The  statistics  of  the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels 
and  the  number  of  boats  are  as  follows : 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 

class  of  ceaft. 

Total. 

Lake  Michi- 
gan district. 

Ohio  River 
district. 

Vessels: 

Numl)er 

2 
33 
937 
18 
9 
900 
10 

2 
33 
56 

9 

9 
31 

7 

Steam  and  motor  .               .  .      ..  ■ 

9 

Sail 

Row 

8(>9 

Other 

The  value  of  shore  and  accessory  property  in  1908 
amounted  to  $4,600  for  vessel  fisheries  and  $13,000 
for  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  while  the  amount  of  cash 
reported  for  vessel  fisheries  was  $800  and  for  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  $4,100.  The  total  capital  credited 
to  vessel  fisheries  was  therefore  $16,000  and  to  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  $58,000. 

Apparatus    of    capture    represented    more    than    a 


third  of  the  entire  investment.     The  number  of  the 
kinds  of  apparatus  was  as  follows: 

Dip  nets 25 

Fyke  nets 919 

Gill  nets 809 

Pound  nets 37 

Seines 30 

The  pound  nets  and  gill  nets  were  used  wholly  in 
Lake  Michigan.  All  except  192  of  the  gill  nets  were 
used  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Products,  hy  species. — The  products,  by  species  and 
apparatus  of  capture,  for  all  fisheries  of  the  state  are 
shown  in  Table  1,  on  page  123.  The  entire  product 
was  taken  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  witJx  the 
exception  of  3,000  pounds  of  herring,  valued  at  $100, 
and  112,000  pounds  of  trout,  valued  at  $8,000,  which 
were  taken  by  the  vessel  fisheries  of  Lake  Michigan. 
The  mussel  fishery  furnished  the  bulk  of  the  product. 
The  catch  of  fish  proper  amounted  to  only  1,076,000 
pounds,  or  7  per  cent  of  the  total,  and  was  valued  at 
$69,000,  or  only  31  per  cent  of  the  total.  These 
figures,  however,  represent  an  increase  over  the  food 
fish  caught  in  1903  of  approximately  66  per  cent  in 
weight  and  125  per  cent  in  value. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — The  fishery  products 
of  the  Ohio  River  and  its  tributaries,  by  species  and 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  are  given  in  Table  2,  on  page 
123,  and  those  of  Lake  Michigan  are  similarly  given 
in  Table  3,  on  page  123. 

The  fisheries  of  the  Ohio  River  district  were  all  of 
the  shore  and  boat  class.  The  entire  product  of  mus- 
sels, pearls,  and  slugs  came  from  these  waters,  con- 
tributing 85  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  district. 
The  fish  product  proper  of  this  district  amounted  to 
455,000  pounds,  valued  at  $27,000,  and  consisted 
cliiefly  of  catfish,  buffalo  fish,  drum,  and  German 
carp,  ranking  in  value  in  the  order  named. 

All  of  the  Lake  Michigan  product  was  food  fish, 
wliile  in  the  Ohio  River  district  only  15  per  cent  of 
the  value  represented  food  fish.  In  the  lake  fish- 
eries trout,  lake  herring,  yellow  perch,  sturgeon  (in- 
cluding caviar),  and  whitefish  were  the  leading  species 
and  formed  91  per  cent  of  the  lake  catch. 

The  chief  products,  ranked  in  the  order  of  tke  value 
reported  for  the  state,  are  given  in  the  following  table, 
by  districts: 


Total.. 


Fish: 

Lake  trout 

Lake  herring 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Perch,  yellow 

Drum  (fresli-water),  orsheepshead  . 

Sturgeon  and  caviar 

Buff  alo  fish 

Carp,  German 

Whitefish 

Another 

Mussel  products 

Shells 

Pearls  and  slugs 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$223,000 


9,600 

8,400 

7,800 

7,600 

7,600 

7,200 

7,000 

6,000 

5,000 

2,400 

155.000 

81,000 

74,000 


Ohio  River 
district. 


Lake  Michi- 
gan district. 


$182,000 


7,600 


6,200 

800 

6,900 

5,000 


900 
155,000 
81,000 
74,000 


$41,000 


9,600 
8,400 

100 
7,600 
1,400 
6,300 

lOO 
1,000 
5,000 
1,400 


122 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Products,  iy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  distribution 
of  the  total  value  of  products,  according  to  apparatus 
of  capture,  for  the  state  and  for  each  district,  was  as 
follows : 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 


Total. 


GUI  nets... 
Pound  nets 
Fyke  nets.. 

Lines 

Seines 

Dip  nets 


18,000 
18,000 
16,000 
11,000 
4,200 
900 
Crowfoot  dredges l    155, 000 


VALUE  OF  PHODCCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


$223,000 


Ohio  River 
district. 


J182,000 


16,000 
7,400 
3,700 


155,000 


I-alre  Miclii- 
gau  district. 


J41,000 


18,000 

18,000 

(') 

3,100 

600 

900 


1  Less  than  tlOO. 

The  product  taken  by  crowfoot  dredges  largely 
exceeded  the  catch  with  all  other  forms  of  apparatus, 
comprising  14,431,000  pounds  of  mussel  shells,  which 
had  a  value,  including  pearls  and  slugs,  of  $155,000. 

Mussel  products. — The  mussel  fishery  of  the  state 
has  developed  since  1903  and  is  responsible  for  almost 
the  entire  gain  in  the  value  of  the  fishery  products  of 
the  Ohio  River  district  since  that  date.  The  large 
value  of  the  pearls  and  slugs  is  noteworthy,  nearly 
equaling  that  of  the  mussel  shells  and  exceeding  the 
aggregate  value  of  all  food  fish. 

Laketrovi. — The  lake-trout  catch  was  larger  than 
that  of  any  other  species  of  fish  reported  for  1908.  Over 
four-fifths  of  the  catch  was  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries, 
in  which  this  species  contributed  the  entire  amount, 
with  the  exception  of  3,000  pounds  of  lake  herring. 
Trout  were  taken  almost  entirely  with  gill  nets.  The 
following  comparative  statement  shows  the  catch  for 
stated  years: 


TXAB. 

LAKE-TROUT      PROD- 
UCT OF  LAKE  MICHI- 
GAN DISTRICT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908       

130.000 
76.000 
35,000 

155,000 

$9,600 

1903 

3,800 

1899 

2,000 

1890                             

7,700 

LaJce  herring. — ^Lake  herring  ranked  second  in  value 
among  the  food  fishes  in  1908.    The  value  of  the  prod- 


uct in  1890  was  $3,200;  in  1899,  $7,200;  and  in  1903 
only  $2,300.     By  1908  it  had  increased  to  $8,400. 

Catfish. — Catfish  and  buUlieads  ranked  next  to  lake 
herring  in  value  in  1908.  The  Ohio  River  district  fur- 
nished almost  the  entire  catch.  Over  one-half  of  the 
catch  was  taken  with  fyke  nets  and  most  of  the  remain- 
der with  lines.  Catfish  formerly  led  in  quantity  and 
in  value,  but  a  great  decline  in  both  these  respects  was 
shown  in  1908,  as  is  indicated  by  the  following  tabular 
statement : 


CATFISH  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

102,000 

288,000 
802,000 

$7,800 

1899 

18,000 
43,000 

1894     

Yellow  perch. — Yellow  perch,  with  a  catch  of  prac- 
tically the  same  value  as  that  of  catfish,  was  a  product 
of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Lake  Michigan.  The 
greater  part  of  the  catch  was  taken  with  gill  nets, 
although  considerable  quantities  were  caught  in  pound 
nets.  This  species  was  taken  in  greater  quantities  in 
1899  than  in  1908,  but  the  value  was  no  greater  in  the 
earlier  year. 

Other  products. — Drum  and  sturgeon  were  taken  in 
both  districts,  the  former  mostly  in  the  Ohio  River 
district  and  the  latter  mostly  in  Lake  Michigan.  The 
catch  of  fresh-water  drum  decreased  at  about  the  same 
rate  as  that  of  catfish.  The  value  of  the  yield  from  the 
Ohio  River  district  alone  was  $20,000  in  1894,  but  by 
1899  it  had  dropped  to  $11,000,  while  in  1908  the  value 
of  the  catch  for  the  whole  state  was  only  $7,600.  The 
quantity  has  decreased  in  much  the  same  proportions. 
The  yield  of  the  sturgeon  product  has  been  fluctuating, 
the  lake  catch  being  valued  at  $2,800  in  1890,  $800  in 
1899,  $300  m  1903,  and  $6,300  in  1908. 

The  buffalo-fish  product  was  valued  at  only  a  httle 
less  than  that  of  either  of  the  foregoing  species. 
Nearly  the  whole  catch  was  from  the  Oliio  River  and 
two-thirds  was  taken  by  fyke  nets.  The  catch  of  buf- 
falo fish  shows  a  decrease  in  value  from  $17,000  in  1894 
to  $7,700  in  1899  and  to  $7,000  in  1908.  German 
carp  increased  in  weight  and  in  value  reported  from 
$1,100  in  1894  to  $2,300  in  1899  and  to  $6,000  in  1908. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— INDIANA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


123 


TOTAL.' 

PRODtrCT  CAUOHT  BY 

- 

spEcna. 

GiU  Dets.i 

Pound  nets. 

Fyke 

nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Crowfoot  dredges 
and  dip  nets.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

15,507,000 

$223,000 

285,000 

118,000 

293,000 

$18,000 

284,000 

$16,000 

132,000 

$11,000 

70,000 

$4,200 

14.443.000 

$156,000 

— : : — : 

Fish: 

Buffalo  fish 

124,000 

128,000 
102,000 

137,000 
198,000 
130,000 

1,700 

119,000 

3,100 

52,000 

300 

21,000 

2,700 

1,000 

4,500 

52,000 

600 

14,431,000 

7,000 

6,000 
7,800 

7,600 
8,400 
9,600 

100 
7,000 

300 
6,800 

400 
1,100 

300 

100 

400 

6,0(X) 

100 

81,000 

74,000 

3,400 

16,000 

1,300 

33,000 

118,000 

5,200 

1,100 
40,000 

lOO 
16,000 

300 
10,000 

2,700 

100 
500 
100 

1,.300 

4,900 

500 

« 

2,300 
(») 

2,800 
400 
400 

300 

83,000 
75,000 
59,000 

57,000 

4,500 
3,400 
4,500 

3,200 

27,000 
6,700 
37,000 

32,000 

1,700 

500 

2,800 

2,000 

11,000 

30,000 

4,000 

14,000 
200 

600 

1,«)0 
300 

1,000 
(*) 

200 

(') 

Drum  (fresh -water),  or 

400 
79,000 
124,000 

300 
66,000 

(») 

3,. WO 
9,200 

(=) 
4,400 

200 
1.700 

(') 

100 

300 

300 

3,300 

200 

25,000 

P) 

300 
(») 
3,300 

Linjr,  oreelpout 

1 

300 

600 

7,200 

100 
300 

9,000 

700 

Pike  perch(wall-eyed  pike) 

2,200 
700 

300 

3,700 

400 

1,800 

100 

7,100 

600 

1,700 

200 

(<) 

(>) 



1,000 

100 

4,500 

42,000 

500 

400 

3,900 

100 

Whiteflsh 

9,300 
100 

1,100 

14,431,000 

81,000 

74,000 

>  All  from  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  except  115,000  pounds,  valued  at  $8,100,  talien  in  the  vessel  fisheries  with  gill  nets.    This  quantity  comprised  3,000  pounds  ol  lake 
herring,  valued  at  $100,  and  112,000  pounds  of  trout,  valued  at  $8,000.  >  Less  than  100  pounds. 

2  Crowfoot  dredges  were  used  only  in  taking  mussels.  .  <  Less  than  $100. 

Table  2.— INDIANA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  OHIO  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PEODUCT  CAVQHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

Fyke  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines  and  crowfoot 
dredges.^ 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

14,886,000 

$182,000 

284,000 

$16,000 

113,000 

$7,400 

14,489,000 

$158,000 

Ftoh: 

121,000 

100,000 

101,000 

104,000 

3,000 

17,000 

8,600 

•  14,431,000 

6,900 

6,000 

7,600 

6,200 

300 

800 

600 

81,000 

74,000 

m 

83,000 
75,000 
59,000 
57,000 

2,200 
700 

6,900 

4,600 
3,400 
4,500 
3,200 
300 

600 

27,000 

6,700 

37,000 

32,000 

200 

9,500 

1,700 

500 

2,800 

2,000 

500 

11,000 
19,000 
4,600 
14,000 
600 
7,200 
1,700 
•14,431,000 

600 

1,100 

300 

Drum  (fresh-water)  orsheepshead      

1,000 

100 

300 

200 

•    81,000 

74,000 

100 

100 

(') 

1  Crowfoot  dredges  were  used  only  in  taking  mussels.  '  Less  than  $100.         •  Includes  60,000  pounds  of  mussel  shells,  valued  at  $500,  from  the  Kankakee  River. 

Table  3.— INDIANA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


Total. 


Buffalo  fish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Drum  (fresh-water),  or  sheepshead  . 
Eels 


Lake  herring 

La  .e  trout 

Ling,  or  eelpout 

Perch,  yellow 

Sturgeon  and  caviar. 
Suckers 


Trout,  rainbow. 

Trout,  perch 

While  bass 

Whitefish 

All  other 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


622,000 


3.700 
27,000 

1,300 

33,000 

400 

198,000 
130,000 
1,700 
119,000 
35,000 
12,000 

2,700 

1,000 

4,600 

62.000 

300 


Value. 


$41,000 


100 
1,000 

100 
1,400 

100 

8,400 
9,000 

100 
7,600 
6,300 

600 

300 

100 

400 

5,000 

(>) 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BT— 


Gill  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


400 


79,000 

124,000 

300 

66,000 

3.700 

1.800 


9,300 
100 


Value. 


$18,000 


W 


3,300 

9,200 

(») 

4,400 

400 

100 


1,100 


Pound  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


293,000 


3,500 
16,000 

1,300 

33,000 

400 

118,000 

6,200 

1,100 

40,000 

16,000 

10,000 

2,700 


4,500 

43,000 

200 


Value. 


$18,000 


100 
600 
100 
30O 
100 

900 
600 

300 
200 
400 
300 


An  other  apparatus.' 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


200 
12,000 


400 


1,900 

300 

300 

13,000 

15,000 

200 


{■) 


Value. 


$4,700 


(') 


600 


m 


100 

1,000 

2,800 


(•) 


100 


m 


>  All  from  the  shore  and  boat  fLsheries,  except  115,000  pounds,  valued  at  $8,100,  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries  with  gill  nets.    This  quantity  comprised  3,000  pounds  of 
lake  herring  valued  at  $100,  and  112,000  pounds  of  lake  trout,  valued  at  $8,000. 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Lines,  19,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,100;  dip  nets,  12,000  pounds,  valued  at  $900;  and  seines,  12.000  pounds,  valued  at  $600. 

>  Less  than  $100. 


124 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


IOWA. 

In  1908  Iowa  held  a  relatively  unimportant  place 
among  the  states  in  wliich  commercial  fishing  was  car- 
ried on.  It  was,  however,  fourth  among  the  states 
represented  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi  River 
and  its  tributaries.  The  Mississippi  and  Missouri 
Rivers  are  the  waters  of  chief  importance  in  or  border- 
ing on  this  state,  and  the  commercial  fisheries  of  the 
state  were  practically  confined  to  them.  Small  quan- 
tities of  mussel  shells  were  taken  from  the  Iowa  and 
Wapsipinicon  Rivers,  but  the  state  laws  prohibit  the 
taking  of  fish  in  any  of  the  interior  rivers  or  lakes 
except  by  means  of  hook  and  line.  No  vessels  were 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state.  A  summary  of 
the  statistics  for  1908  is  given  in  the  following  state- 
ment: 

Number  of  persona  employed 786 

Capital: 

Boats $38, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 29, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property 11, 000 

Value  of  products 215, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  a  comparison  of  the  leading 
statistics  for  1908  with  those  for  1894  and  1899,  as 
shown  in  the  reports  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries : 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE    OF  EQtnPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Boats. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

786 

1,181 

9« 

$66,000 
50,000 
39,000 

138,000 
17,000 
15,000 

129,000 
33,000 
25,000 

8,867,000 

123,902,000 

4,080,000 

$215, 000 

1899 

208,000 

1894 

125,000 

•  Includes  20,354,000  pounds  of  mussel  shells. 

From  1894  to  1899  there  were  fairly  large  increases 
in  the  number  of  persons  employed,  the  total  value  of 
equipment,  and  the  value  of  boats  and  of  apparatus 
of  capture.  Fewer  persons  were  employed  in  1908 
than  in  either  of  the  other  years  for  wluch  a  canvass 
was  made,  a  fact  wliich  was  due  to  the  discontinuance 
of  commercial  fishing  along  the  Skunk,  Des  Moines, 
and  Big  Sioux  Rivers  and  in  the  lakes  reported  as 
fishing  grounds  in  the  former  years. 

The  value  reported  for  apparatus  of  capture  was 
lower  in  1908  than  in  1899.  The  decrease  did  not, 
however,  bring  the  value  for  1908  as  low  as  that 
reported  in  1894;  nor  did  it  result  in  a  reduction  in 
the  total  value  of  equipment  between  1899  and  1908, 
the  tendency  in  that  direction  being  more  than  offset 
by  an  increase  in  the  value  of  boats. 

The  great  changes  in  the  quantity  of  products  reflect 
the  rise  and  decUne  of  the  mussel-shell  industry  rather 
than  the  development  of  the  general  fisheries  of  the 
state.  If  mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs  are  elimi- 
nated from  consideration,  the  weight  of  products  as 


reported  in  1894,  1899,  and  1908  was,  respectively, 
3,932,000  pounds,  3,548,000  pounds,  and  4,167,000 
pounds,  and  the  corresponding  values  were  $123,000, 
$110,000,  and  $170,000.  There  were,  therefore,  in  the 
case  of  products  exclusive  of  mussel  shells,  decreases 
in  both  quantity  and  value  in  1899,  as  compared  with 
1894 ;  but  from  1899  to  1908  there  were  increases  which 
more  than  counterbalanced  the  preceding  losses. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  tabular  state- 
ment shows,  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  the  two 
main  fishing  districts,  the  distribution  of  the  persons 
employed,  according  to  their  relation  to  the  industry: 


TERSONS  employed:  190S. 

Number. 

DISTRICT. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Wages. 

Total 

786 

'720 

66 

'$16,000 

Mississippi  River  district. . 

743 
43 

687 
33 

56 
10 

15,000 
1,200 

1  Exclusive  of  six  proprietors  not  fishing. 

I  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $400. 

In  1908,  95  per  cent  of  the  Iowa  fishermen  were 
employed  in  the  basin  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Of 
the  total  number,  only  66,  or  less  than  9  per  cent, 
were  ,wage-earners.  The  amount  paid  in  wages  was 
$16,000.     There  were  no  salaried  employees  reported. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  value  of  the  fishing  equipment  and 
other  items  of  capital  for  the  state  in  190S,  and  its  dis- 
tribution between  the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Mis- 
souri River  districts: 


VALUE  OF  EQtnPMENT  AND  OTHEK 

capital;  1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Missouri 

River 
district. 

Total 

$77,000 

$75,000 

$1,400 

Boats        

38,000 
26,000 
11.000 
600 
29,000 
11,000 

37,000 
26.000 
11,000 
600 
28.000 
10,000 

600 

Steam  and  motor. . 

Row 

fiOO 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

700 

Shore  and  accessory  property. . 

200 

More  than  97  per  cent  of  the  capital  was  invested  in 
the  Mississippi  River  district.  The  investment  in 
boats  formed  49  per  cent  of  the  total  capital;  the  in- 
vestment in  apparatus  of  capture,  38  per  cent;  and 
that  in  shore  and  accessory  property,  14  per  cent. 
Power  boats  represented  one-third  of  all  tlie  capital 
employed. 

The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  used 
are  shown  in  the  next  tabular  statement. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


125 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE;  1908. 

KIND. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Missouri 

River 
district. 

2,4.55 
403 
168 
129 

257 
748 

2,389 
403 
158 
129 
243 
748 

66 

Pound  nots     

10 

Spe'trs 

14 

Traps,  otter ,          ,     . 

Products,  ly  species. — Table  1,  on  page  126,  shows 
the  fishery  products  of  the  state  in  1908,  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — Over  95  per  cent  of 
the  value  was  from  the  Mississippi  River  district.  The 
Missouri  River  products,  aggregating  143,000  pounds, 
of  a  value  of  $9, .300,  are  given  in  Table  2,  on  page  126, 
by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture;  and  by  de- 
ducting the  specific  items  from  the  corresponding 
items  in  the  general  state  table,  the  products  in 
detail  of  the  Mississippi  River  district  are  readily 
ascertainable. 

The  distribution  by  districts  of  the  chief  products, 
ranked  according  to  value,  is  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


VALUE 

OF  products:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Mi-ssourl 

River 

district. 

Total..               

$215,000 

$205,000 

$9,300 

Fish 

167,000 

62,000 

33,000 

23,000 

16,000 

6,600 

5,600 

5,300 

15,000 

44,000 

33.000 

11,000 

3,300 

158,000 
57,000 
31.000 
22,000 
16,000 
6,600 
5,600 
5,200 
14,000 
44,000 
33,000 
11,000 
3,300 

9,300 

4.800 

2,800 

BulTaio  fish 

1,000 

200 

Sucliers        ■. . . 

Drum,  fresh-water 

100 

A U  other 

400 

Mussel  products        

Shells 

Pearls  and  slugs.                   

All  other 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  distribution  of  the  value 
of  products  by  waters  and  according  to  the  kind  of 
apparatus  used  in  making  the  catch: 


VALUE 

OF  products:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Missouri 

River 
district. 

Total 

$215,000 

$205,000 

$9,300 

68,000 
46,000 
44,000 
30,000 
12,000 
11,000 
2,000 

64,000 
43,000 
44,000 
28,000 
11.000 
11,000 
2,600 

3  300 

2,900 

Crowfoot  dredges              

1,C00 

Lines 

1,500 

Another 

As  shown  by  the  table  on  page  126,  seines  were  used 
in  the  capture  of  every  species  of  fish  proper  caught 
in  any  of  the  waters  of  the  state,  with  the  exception  of 
eels,  and  the  catch  by  seines  represented  32  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  all  products  caught. 


Trammel  nets,  with  which  fishery  products  aggre- 
gating 21  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  state  were 
caught,  were  also  employed  in  taking  a  great  number 
of  species;  but  the  catch  with  crowfoot  dredges,  rank- 
ing next  and  representing  20  per  cent  of  the  total 
value,  consisted  exclusively  of  mussel  products. 

Mussel  products. — The  comparison  of  the  weight  and 
value  of  several  general  classes  of  the  products  of  the 
Iowa  fisheries  for  1894,  1899,  and  1908,  given  in  the 
following  tabular  statement,  is  of  special  interest,  as 
showing  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  mussel  industry 
between  1894  and  1899  and  its  rapid  decline  since: 


FISHERY  PRODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Fish. 

Mussel  shells, 
pearls,  and  slugs. 

All  other  prod- 
ucts.' 

Quan- 
tity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quan- 
tity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quan- 
tity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quan- 
tity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908... 
1899... 
1894... 

8,867,000 
23,902,000 
4,080,000 

$215, 000 
208,000 
125,000 

4,071,000 
3, 369, 0(X) 
3,9,32,000 

$167,000 
110,000 
123,000 

4,699,000  $44,000 

20,354,000     97,000 

148,000       2,100 

97^000 
18,000 

$3,300 
400 

I  Includes  frogs,  turtles,  and  sltins. 

In  1899,  10,000  tons  of  mussel  shells  were  dredged 
in  the  Iowa  fisheries,  wliile  in  1894  only  74  tons  were 
reported.  Since  1899,  however,  the  beds  appear  to 
have  become  gradually  exhausted,  and  in  1908  only 
2,300  tons  were  obtained.  The  value  of  the  mussel 
product,  which  in  1894  was  only  $2,100,  or  less  than 
2  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the 
state,  was  $97,000  in  1899,  or  nearly  47  per  cent  of 
the  total  of  all  products  in  that  year.  By  1908  the 
value  of  the  mussel  shells  had  fallen  to  $44,000,  or 
20  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products. 
Nevertheless,  at  the  last  canvass  of  the  states  having 
fisheries  along  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries, 
only  three — Arkansas,  Illinois,  and  Indiana — reported 
a  greater  value  of  mussel-shell  product  than  Iowa. 
Among  the  fishery  products  of  Iowa  at  that  date  the 
value  of  the  product  of  the  mussel-shell  industry  was 
exceeded  only  by  that  of  the  carp  catch. 

Other  leading  products. — The  German  carp  was  the 
leading  variety  of  fish  in  1908,  the  value  of  the  catch 
forming  29  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products 
and  being  nearly  twice  as  great  as  the  value  of  the 
species  next  in  importance — catfish  and  bullheads. 
From  1899  to  1908  the  carp  product  increased  from 
1,039,000  pounds,  valued  at  $23,000,  to  2,048,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $62,000;  that  is,  the  product  nearly 
doubled  in  weight  and  nearly  tripled  in  value. 

Catfish,  buffalo  fish,  and  fresh-water  drum  were 
each  reported  in  smaller  quantities  in  1908  than  in 
1899,  but  increases  occurred  in  the  quantity  and  value 
of  the  suckers  and  black  bass  caught.  The  catch  of 
sturgeon,  however,  gained  greatly  between  the  two 
canvasses,  increasing  from  44,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$1,400,  to  223,000  pounds,  valued  at  $16,000. 


126 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— IOWA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PEODtrCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPEOES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Fylse  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus. ^ 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

§SS  value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

8,867,000 

$215,000 

1,877,000 

$68,000 

1,087,000 

$46,000 

625,000 

$30,000 

200,  OIK) 

$12,000 

321,000  $11,000 

4,766,000 

$47,000 

Fisli: 

Blact  bass 

54,000 
566,000 
2,048,000 
418,000 
115,000 

7,800 

188,000 

6,400 

6,900 

12,000 
61,000 
38,000 
215,000 

8,600 
197,000 
127,000 

4,700 

2,500 

93,000 

4,699,000 

5,600 
23,000 
62,000 
33,000 

4,700 

100 

5,300 

600 

300 

300 

3,200 

2.700 

11,000 

5,300 

6,600 

2,700 

300 

300 

1,800 

33.000 

11,000 

400 

800 

40,000 

222,000 

1,004,000 

182,000 

89,000 

7,800 
89,000 

4,200 
8.400 
29,000 
11,000 
3,600 

100 
2,400 

5,400 

112,000 

562,000 

18,000 

9,800 

600 

4,800 

18,000 

1,700 

400 

1.200 
159,000 
265, 000 
109,000 

8,500 

100 
6,900 
8,600 
11,000 

400 

4,300 

17,000 

65,000 

74,000 

lOO 

400 

700 

2,100 

7,400 

2,800 
54,000 
150,000 
35.000 

7,500 

300 
2,000 
4,300 
2,300 

300 

1,500 
2,000 

100 

Carp,  German , 

Catnsli  and  bulllieads 

100 

Crappie  ... 

47,000 

1,300 

16,000 
800 

600 
100 

20,000 
4,400 

700 
SOO 

19,000 
300 

466 

EeU                                     .  .     . 

Paddlefish 

5,600 

8,200 
40,000 
25,000 
20,000 

200 

13,000 

107,000 

4,200 

•  300 

200 
2,100 
1.800 
1,100 

100 

300 

2,200 

300 

1,300 

100 

900 
1.600 
1,600 

300 

100 
100 

2,400 

12,000 

4,300 

800 

100 

600 
300 

Pilce  and  piclierel 

6,600 

4,200 

184,000 

8,400 

125,000 

5,000 

300 

400 

9,500 

6,200 

4,300 

200 

2,000 
2,600 
8,700 

100 
200 
600 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

Sturgeon 

Caviar  and  paddlefish  eggs 

62,000 
3,000 

2,000 
100 

6.200 
12,000 

100 
300 

White  bass 

600 

m 

2,600 

49,000 

4,699,000 

300 

Txirtles                                    .  .  . 

21,000 

400 

7,400 

100 

800 

n 

16,000 

300 

1,000 

33,000 

11,000 

»100 
<1,400 

MOO 

<  1,400 

400 

800 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges,  4,699,000  pounds,  valued  at  $44,000;  hooks,  sjiears,  etc.,  65,000  pounds,  valued  at  11,400;  and  mink  and 
muskrat  traps,  1,500  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200. 

2  Ixass  than  $100.  » lOO  skins.  <  4,300  skins. 

Table  2.— IOWA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSOURI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value, 
t 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

143,000 

$9,300 

66,000 

$3,'300 

48,000 

$2,900 

21,000 

$1,600 

18,000 

$1,600 

Buffalo  fish 

16,000 
89.000 
27,000 
1,400 
6,900 
600 
3,100 

1,000 

4,800 
2,800 
100 
300 
100 
200 

6,000 
36,000 

7,000 
600 

5,600 
400 
700 

300 
1,900 

.700 
(') 

300 

!'' 
(') 

6.800 
35.000 

5.000 
500 

1,300 
200 
400 

400 
1,900 

500 
(>) 

100 
(') 
(■) 

2,600 

12.000 

6,800 

300 

200 
700 
700 
0) 

1,600 
6,100 
8,000 

100 

400 

Catfish 

900 

Drum  fresh-water 

Paddlefish 

2,000 

100 

1  Less  than  $100. 


KANSAS. 


The  fishing  industry  is  not  important  in  Kansas,  and 
commercial  fishing  in  1908,  which  was  entirely  of  the 
shore  and  boat  class,  was  confined  to  the  Missouri 
River  and  to  the  part  of  the  Kansas  River  near  its 
mouth.  The  principal  statistics  of  the  fisheries  of  the 
state  are  summarized  in  the  following  statement: 

Number  of  persons  employed 97 

Capital: 

Boats $3,200 

Apparatus  of  capture 3, 900 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash t 2, 200 

Value  of  products 28, 000 

Comparison  with  "previous  canvasses. — A  comparison 
of  the  statistics  for  1908  and  those  for  former  years. 


which  were  secured  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  is  pre- 
sented in  the  following  tabular  statement.  There  was 
a  decrease  in  the  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the 
industry,  but  an  increase  of  over  100  per  cent  in  the 
value  of  the  equipment  and  in  the  value  of  the 
product. 


Persons 

em- 
ployed. 

VALUE  OF  EQtnPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Boats. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908.  . 

97 
118 
61 

$7,100 

3.;i(io 
3,000 

$3,200 

1,300 

700 

$3,900 
2,000 
2,300 

432.000 
278,000 
242,000 

$28,000 

1899 

14,000 

1894 

11,000 

Persons  employed. — Of  the  97  persons  employed  in 
the  fisheries  of  Kansas,  90  were  proprietors  and  iade- 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


127 


pendent  fishermen.     The  seven  wage-eamers  received, 
including  provisions  furnished,  the  sura  of  $400. 

Equipment  and  other  capital.— The  value  of  the 
equipment  and  other  capital  reported  for  the  Kansas 
fisheries  in  1908,  and  the  number  of  the  various  kinds 
of  boats  used,  are  shown  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

EQUIPMENT  AND 

OTHER  capital:  1908. 

Number. 

Value. 

Total                                         

{9,300 

3o£(ts                                          ■ 

94 
9 

83 
2 

3,200 

1,500 

Row                                                

1,500 

Other                                                 - 

200 

3,900 

.  ... 

1,600 

Cash                 

600 

The  total  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  was 
$3,900,  of  which  amount  $2,900  represented  the  value 
of  620  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  which  were  by  far  the  most 
important  forms  of  apparatus.  There  were  32  tram- 
mel nets  and  17  seines  reported. 


Products. — -The  total  product,  which  amounted  to 
432,000  pounds,  valued  at  $28,000,  is  shown  in  detail, 
by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  the  follow- 
ing table. 

German  carp  formed  by  far  the  most  important 
fisherj'  product,  the  total  catch  in  1908  being  304,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $19,000,  or  70  per  cent  of  the 
quantity  and  68  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery 
products  of  the  state.  The  quantity  and  value  re- 
ported for  this  fish  have  increased  to  a  great  extent 
since  1894,  when  the  catch  was  19,000  pounds  and  the 
value  $600. 

Catfish,  on  the  other  hand,  showed  a  large  decrease, 
the  total  catch  in  1908  being  only  52,000  pounds,  val- 
ued at  $4,400,  compared  with  95,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $6,100,  in  1899.  Buffalo  fish  also  showed  a  de- 
crease between  1899,  when  the  catch  was  52,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $2,200,  and  1908,  when  it  was 
35,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,000. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets,  trammel  nets,  and  seines  were 
the  chief  forms  of  apparatus  of  capture  used,  German 
carp  representing  most  of  the  value  of  the  catch  in 
each  case. 


KA.NSAS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


Buffalo  flsh 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

Dnim,  fresh-water 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 


Sturgeon. 
Suckers.. 
Sunfish . . . 
All  other. 


product  caught  by- 


Quantlty 
(pounds). 


432,000 


35,000 
304,000 
52,000 
18,000 
6,600 

7,300 
1,900 
2,300 
4,000 


Value. 


128,000 


2,000 
19,000 
4,400 
1,100 
500 

400 
100 
100 
300 


Fyke  and  hoop  nets.  Trammel  nets. 


Quantity 
(poimds). 


154,000 


13,000 
112,000 

16,000 
5,200 
1,700 

2,800 

800 

1,000 

1,000 


Value. 


J10,000 


70O 

7,200 

1,300 

300 

100 

200 
(■) 


100 
100 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


125,000 


12,000 
89,000 
11,000 
0,800 
2,700 

1,800 
700 
600 

1,000 


Value. 


$8,000 


700 
5,600 
900 
400 
200 

100 
(>) 
(') 


Seines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


124,000 


11,000 

89,000 

12,000 

5,200 

2,200 

1,600 
400 
500 

2,200 


Value. 


$7,700 


600 
5,400 
900 
300 
200 

100 

<'^ 
(') 
100 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


30,000 


14,000 

14,000 

1,000 


1,100 


200 


Value. 


$2,400 


900 

1,300 

100 


100 


(■) 


>  Less  than  $100. 


KENTUCKY. 


The  fisheries  of  Kentucky,  all  of  which  are  of  the 
shore  and  boat  class,  fall  into  two  main  divisions,  those 
of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  small  tributaries  in  the 
western  part  of  the  state  and  those  of  the  Ohio  River 
and  its  tributaries,  including  the  Tennessee  and  the 
Cumberland  Rivers.  In  respect  to  quantity,  mussel 
shells,  buffalo  fish,  and  German  carp  were  the  leading 
products,  in  the  order  named,  while  in  respect  to  value, 
catfish,  buffalo  fish,  and  German  carp  led,  in  the  order 


named.  The  mussel  shell  and  pearl  industry  is  of 
recent  development.  The  following  statement  gives 
a  summary  of  the  industry  for  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 555 

Capital : 

Boats $11,.000 

Apparatus  of  capture 21,  (XX) 

Shore  and  accessory  property 6,  600 

Value  of  products 110, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — A  comparison 
of  the  industry  in  1908  with  certain  earlier  years,  for 


128 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


which  statistics  collected  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries 
are  available,  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment : 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PEODUCI3. 

TSAB. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 
boats,  in- 
eluding 
outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

544 
651 
587 

$32,000 
30,000 
33,000 

$11,000 
10.000 
10,000 

$21,000 
19,000 
23,000 

5,390,000 
1,753,000 
2,274,000 

$110,000 
79,000 
90,000 

1899 

1894 

The  large  increase  shown  for  1908  in  quantity  of 
product  was  due  almost  entirely  to  the  mussel  fish- 
eries, which  were  not  reported  in  the  preceding  can- 
vasses. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  statistics  of  the  persons  employed  in 
the  Kentucky  fisheries  in  1908: 


PEE30NS  employed:  1908. 

DISTBICT  AND  CLASS 

Number. 

Total. 

Proprietors 
and  inde- 
pendent 
fishermen. 

Wage- 
earuera. 

Wages. 

Total 

555 

452 

103 

$6,600 

Mississippi  River  district 

87 

•  79 

8 

60O 

87 
468 

79 
373 

8 
95 

Ohio  River  district 

6,900 

457 
11 

373 

84 
11 

'5,400 
600 

Shoresmen... 

>  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $400. 

The  fishing  was  done  on  a  small  scale,  and  the  pre- 
vailing type  of  person  engaged  in  this  pursuit  was 
the  independent  fisherman.  All  the  shoresmen  and 
a  large  proportion  of  the  other  wage-earners  were 
employed  in  the  mussel  industry.  The  small  amount 
paid  in  wages  indicates  that  the  wage-earners  were 
engaged  in  the  fisheries  only  a  part  of  the  time. 

Equipment  and  other  capital.— The  value  of  the 
equipment  and  the  amount  of  other  capital  employed 
are  shown  below: 


CLASS  or  INVESTMENT. 


Total 

Boats 

Motor 

Row 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property. 


VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT  AND 
OTHEB  capital:  1908. 


Total. 


$39,000 


11,000 
4,600 
6,600 

21,000 
6,600 


Ohio 

River 
district. 


$29,000 


8,300 
3,600 
4,700 
16,000 
4,400 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


$9,400 


2,800 
900 
1,900 
4,400 
2,200 


Boats   constituted   somewhat   less   than   one-third 
of  the  total  investment   and  apparatus  of  capture 


more  than  one-half.  For  the  entire  state  479  row- 
boats  and  32  motor  boats  were  reported,  399  of  the 
former  and  26  of  the  latter  being  used  in  the  Ohio 
River  district.  Fyke  and  hoop  nets  largely  pre- 
dominated among  the  apparatus  of  capture,  2,513 
being  used  in  the  Ohio  River  district  and  767  in  the 
Mississippi  River  district.  Thirty-six  seines  and  one 
trammel  net  were  reported  for  the  Ohio  River  dis- 
trict and  four  seines  and  one  trammel  net  for  the 
Mississippi  River  district. 

Products,  hy  species. — The  products  for  1908  were 
distributed  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture  as 
shown  in  Table  1,  on  page  129.  Thirteen  species  of 
fish  were  reported,  besides  turtles  and  mussels. 
Five  of  the  products  together  represented  more  than 
nine-tenths  of  the  total,  both  in  weight  and  value. 
In  order  of  value  they  were  catfish,  bufTalo  fish, 
mussel  products  (including  shells  and  pearls),  German 
carp,  and  fresh-water  drum.  In  1899  mussels  were 
not  reported  and  the  German  carp  was  of  minor  im- 
portance, but  catfish,  bufl'alo  fish,  and  drum  led  in  the 
order  named,  and  together  contributed  nearly  73  per 
cent  of  the  total  product,  both  in  weight  and  in  value. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — Table  2,  on  page  129, 
gives  in  detail  the  fishery  products  of  the  state  from 
the  Ohio  River  and  its  tributaries,  and  Table  3,  on 
page  130,  those  from  the  Mississippi  River  and  its 
tributaries  other  than  the  Oliio  River. 

In  the  Ohio  River  district  the  leading  species  were, 
in  the  order  of  their  value,  the  mussel,  catfish,  buffalo 
fish,  fresh-water  drum,  and  carp,  winch  together 
formed  91  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
The  most  important  fisliing  grounds  in  this  district 
are  those  of  the  Ohio  River.  The  products  of  the 
Mississippi  River  district  constituted  about  one-third 
in  quantity  of  the  total  product  of  the  state,  exclusive 
of  mussel  shells.  Catfish,  buffalo  fish,  carp,  and  drum 
formed  the  bulk  of  the  catch  and  contributed  over  93 
per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  district,  both  in  weight 
and  in  value. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — Crowfoot  dredges, 
used  exclusively  for  mussels,  took  more  than  63  per 
cent  of  the  product.  In  value,  however,  the  catch  by 
crowfoot  dredges  was  exceeded  by  the  catch  by  fyke 
and  hoop  nets  and  that  by  lines.  The  product  taken 
by  fyke  and  hoop  nets  contributed  43  per  cent  of  the 
total  value,  and  that  taken  by  lines  over  27  per  cent. 
In  the  Mississippi  River  district  96  per  cent  of  the 
total  quantity  was  taken  by  these  two  forms  of 
apparatus,  and  in  the  Ohio  River  district  23  per  cent 
of  the  total.  Nearly  all  the  seine  catch  was  from  the 
Ohio  River  fisheries.  More  than  one-half  of  the  catch 
by  lines  consisted  of  catfish,  and  more  than  half  of 
the  catfish  catch  was  taken  by  lines. 

Catfish. — ^The  catch  of  catfish  represented  in  1908 
nearly  24  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery 
products  of  the  state.     The  yield  was  slightly  larger, 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


129 


in  respect  to  both  quantity  and  value,  than  in  1899, 
although  its  relative  importance  was  somewhat 
greater  at  the  earlier  date,  when  it  contributed  26  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  fishery  yield  of  the  state. 
Two-thirds  of  the  value  of  this  species  was  from  the 
Oliio  River  district,  and  one-third  from  the  Mississippi 
River  district. 

Buffalo  fish. — ^This  product  in  1908  was  credited 
with  about  20  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  catch. 
The  species  showed  a  substantial  increase  in  both 
quantity  and  value  over  the  figures  for  1899,  but 
declined  somewhat  in  relative  importance.  Of  the 
value  of  the  catch  of  buffalo  fish,  71  per  cent  was 
reported  from  the  Ohio  River  district. 

Mussel  'products. — Mussel  shells,  together  with 
pearls  and  slugs,  ranked  third  in  value  of  products,  and 


contributed  18  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
The  mussel  product,  which  in  1908  appears  for  the 
first  time  in  the  statistics  of  the  commercial  fisheries 
of  Kentucky,  was  entirely  from  the  Ohio  River 
district. 

German  carp. — ^This  fish  has  advanced  from  the 
position  of  a  minor  species,  with  a  value  of  $3,100  in 
1899,  to  fourth  rank  in  1908,  with  a  value  of  $18,000, 
one-sixth  of  the  total  for  the  state.  The  Ohio  River 
district  reported  the  greater  portion  of  the  catch. 

Fresh-water  drum. — ^This  is  the  only  important 
species  which  shows  a  decrease  in  quantity  and  value 
since  1899.  In  that  year  391,000  pounds  were 
taken,  valued  at  $19,000,  or  24  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  products  for  the  state.  Four-fifths  of  the 
drum  catch  was  from  the  Ohio  River  district. 


Table  1  .—KENTUCKY— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Crowfoot  dredges. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

5.390.000 

$110,000 

1,122,000 

$47,000 

598,000 

$30,000 

3,413,000 

$20,000 

247,000 

$12,000 

9,600 

$400 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

7,100 

4,300 

630,000 

449,000 

436,000 

12,000 

354,000 

300 

65,000 

8,400 

2,200 

60,000 

46,000 

1,900 
3,413,000 

700 

200 

21,000 

18.000 

26,000 

900 
16,000 
(') 
1,700 

700 

200 

2,400 

2,100 

(') 

18,000 
1,900 

1,600 

700 

392,000 

305.000 

120,000 

1,800 
197,000 

200 

(>) 

15,000 
12,000 

8,000 

100 
8,000 

2,700 

100 

76,000 

78.000 

295,000 

700 

420,000 

300 

300 
(') 

3,300 
3.200 
17,000 

(■) 

5,700 

(') 

2,600 

3,200 

61,000 

61,000 

21,000 

9,300 
36,000 

200 

100 

2,600 

2,700 

1,200 

600 
2,400 

200 

300 

1,000 

5,000 

Buffalo  fish 

Catfish 

Crappie 

70O 
2,000 

100 

100 

Eels 

Paddleflsh 

53,000 

5,100 

1,100 

10,000 

34,000 

1,300 

500 

100 

500 

1,300 

11,000 

300 

300 

29,000 

12,000 

400 

ii. 

800 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

2,600 

800 

21,000 

200 
100 
600 

400 

O 

Rock  bass  and  white  bass. . . 

Suckers 

1,900 

(') 

Mussel  shells 

3,413,000 

18,000 
1,900 

'  Less  than  $100. 
Table  2.— KENTUCKY— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  OHIO  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Crowfoot  dredges. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

4.765,000 

$87,000 

719,000 

$34,000 

397,000 

$21,000 

3,413,000 

$20,000 

231,000 

$12,000 

4,000 

$200 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

6,200 

2,900 

345.000 

289.000 

273.000 

6,800 

281,000 

100 

37,000 

6,800 

1,400 

58,000 

46,000 

3,413,000 

600 

100 

15.000 

13,000 

17,000 

500 
14,000 
(') 
1,000 

600 

100 

2,400 

2,100 

18,000 
1,900 

1,600 

500 

216,000 

177,000 

101,000 

1,200 
143,000 

200 
(') 

9,800 
7,900 
6,900 

100 
6,600 

2,700 

100 

70,000 

51,000 

152,000 

100 

101,000 

100 

300 
(') 

3,100 
2,300 
9,300 

.% 
(') 

1,900 

2,300 

68,000 

59,000 

20,000 

5,400 
35,000 

200 

100 

2,500 

2,600 

1,100 

400 
2,400 

Buffalo  fish 

i,666 

2,000 

(') 

100 

Catfish 

Crappie 

1,000 

(') 

Eels 

Paddleflsh 

29,000 

4,600 

800 

10,000 

34,000 

700 

400 

100 

500 

1,300 

8,000 

300 

200 

29,000 

12,000 

300 

^\ 

1,300 
800 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

1,900 

400 

19,000 

100 

Suckers 

3,413,000 

18,000 
1,900 

Pearls  and  slugs 



76786°— 11- 


'  Less  than  $100. 


130 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  3.— KENTUCKY— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PROTIUCT  CAUGHT  BY~ 

SPECIES. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Tramrael  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity     ;   valne 
(pounds).    I    ^'""^• 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

625,000 

123,000 

402,000 

$13,000 

201,000 

»9,400 

16,000 

$700 

5,600 

$200 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

1,000 

1,400 

185,000 

101,000 

163,000 

5,700 

74,000 

200 

28,000 

1,600 

800 

2,000 

1,900 

100 

100 

6,000 

5,200 

8,800 
300 
1,900 
(■) 

700 
100 
100 
100 

(') 

700 

900 

3,000 

2,400 

1.100 

3,900 

700 

100 
(') 
100 
100 

100 
200 
(•) 

200 
300 

(■•) 

200 
176,000 
128,000 

19,000 

600 

6.3,000 

i','700 
,    4,100 

1,100 

(■) 

1,400 

Buffalo  flsh 

6,666 
28,000 

143,000 

600 

19,000 

200 

200 
900 

7.700 
(■) 
400 

(■) 

3,000 

100 

Catfish 

Crapple 

700 
1,000 

100 

(') 

Eels 

Paddleflsh 

25,000 
600 
300 

600 

3,300 

100 

■  Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

600 

400 

2,000 

1,900 

(') 
100 

(') 

400 

(') 

Rock  bass  and  white  baas 

100 

0) 

Turtles 

>  Less  than  SIOO. 


LOUISIANA. 

Of  the  states  bordering  upon  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
Louisiana  in  1908  was  second  in  the  extent  of  her 
fisheries,  ranking  next  to  Florida.  In  addition  to  the 
Gulf  fisheries  Louisiana  has  fisheries  along  the  Missis 
sippi  River  and  its  tributaries,  chief  among  which  is  the 
Red  River.  A  large  local  trade  in  fish  and  oysters 
has  its  center  at  New  Orleans,  and  there  are  in  addition 
small  wholesale  markets  for  fish  at  New  Orleans  and 
Morgan  City,  and  for  oysters  at  Morgan  City  and 
Houma. 

The  following  statement  presents  a  summary  of  the 
chief  statistics  for  the  state's  fisheries  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 5, 795 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $794, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 95,  (X)0 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 40, 000 

Value  of  products 1, 569, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — No  statistics 
concerning  the  fisheries  of  Louisiana  for  years  previous 
to  1908  apply  to  the  entire  state,  but  since  the  value 
of  the  product  of  the  Gulf  fisheries  constituted,  in  1908, 
92  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  state,  the  statis- 
tics compiled  at  different  times  for  this  branch  of  the 
state's  fisheries  represent  fairly  the  development  in  the 
state  as  a  whole. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  a  compara- 
tive summary  of  the  principal  statistics  of  the  fisheries 
of  the  Gulf  district  of  Louisiana  for  the  canvasses  of 
1890,  1897,  and  1908,  and  those  of  the  Mississippi 
River  district  of  the  state  for  1899  and  1908: 


Per- 
sons 
em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQinPMBNT. 

PRODUCTS. 

DISTRICT  AND  YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 
and 

boats, 

includ- 
ing 

outfit. 

Appa- 
ratus of 
cap- 
ture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Gulf  Of  Mexico  district: 
1908 

4,849 
3,719 
3,608 

643 

8810,000 
271,000 
294,000 

79,000 
17,000 

$729,000 
239,000 
255,000 

66,000 
10,000 

$82,000 
32,000 
39,000 

13,000 
7,000 

42,302,000 
17,402,000 
20,789,000 

3,803,000 
1,942,000 

$1,448,000 
714,000 
600,000 

18971 

1890 

Mississippi    River   dis- 
trict: 
1908 

121,000 
57,000 

1899 

324 

'  The  figures  are  below  normal,  owing  to  quarantine. 

In  Louisiana,  as  in  other  states  bordering  on  this 
body  of  water,  the  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  show 
an  increase  in  recent  years  in  each  of  the  items  covered 
by  the  tabular  statement,  with  the  exception  that  in 
1897,  owing  to  the  fact  that  a  quarantine  was  in  force 
for  a  large  part  of  the  year,  fishing  operations  were 
curtailed  and  the  capital  and  quantity  of  product 
reported  were  less  than  in  1890.  In  the  Mississippi 
River  fisheries  the  amount  of  capital  invested  in  equip- 
ment increased  365  per  cent  between  1899  and  1908, 
and  in  each  of  the  other  items  there  was  an  increase 
of  more  than  86  per  cent.  In  the  Gulf  district  the 
gain  in  quantity  of  product  has  been  much  greater 
than  the  gain  in  value;  in  the  Mississippi  River  dis- 
trict quantity  has  increased  but  very  little  faster  than 
value. 

Persons  employed. — The  statistics  of  the  persons  em- 
ployed in  the  Louisiana  fisheries  in  1908  are  as  fol- 
lows: 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


131 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ployees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total  ..  . 

6,795 

12,963 

2 

2,830 

1570,000 

$1,700 

21568,000 

Gulf  of  Mexico  dis- 
trict  

5,152 

2,472 

2 

2,678 

536,000 

1,700 

536,000 

Vessel  fisheries. 
Transporting 

vessels 

Shore  and  boat 

fisheries 

503 

180 

4,166 
303 

643 

72 

19 

2,381 

2 

431 

159 

1,785 
303 

152 

98,000 

61,000 

341,000 
45,000 

33,000 

1,700 

98,000 

49,000 

341,000 
45,000 

Mississippi     River 
district 

491 

33,000 

Transporting 
vessels 

Shore  and  boat, 
fisheries 

34 
609 

1 
490 

33 
119 

10,000 
23,000 

10,000 
23,000 

1  Exclusive  of  73  proprietors  not  fishing. 

2  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $146,000. 

The  persons  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisher- 
ies, including  244  shoresmen,  outnumbered  those  em- 
ployed in  the  vessel  fisheries,  including  59  shoresmen, 
the  total  figures  being  5,019  and  562,  respectively. 
The  total  number  employed  in  transporting  vessels 
was  214.  The  number  of  wage-earners  was  smaller 
than  the  number  of  proprietors  and  independent  fish- 
ermen. The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  credited  with 
2,871  of  the  2,963  proprietors  and  independent  fisher- 
men actually  engaged  in  fishing,  and  with  2,148  of  the 
2,832  employees.  In  vessel  fisheries  employees  out- 
numbered proprietors  and  independent  fishermen,  the 
ratio  being  about  6  to  1,  and  for  transporting  vessels 
the  ratio  was  nearly  10  to  1;  but  in  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  were 
more  numerous  than  wage-earners,  in  the  ratio  of  4  to 
3.  The  wages  and  salaries  paid  equaled  36  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  products. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  table 
gives  statistics  of  the  capital  invested  in  Louisiana 
fisheries  in  1908: 


value  of  equipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 

Total. 

Oulfof 
Mexico 
district. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Total 

$929,000 

$841,000 

$88,000 

441,000 

154,000 

63,000 

46,000 

17,000 

91,000 

62,000 

29,000 

286,000 

243,000 

193,000 

60,000 

1,100 

1,000 

100 

42,000 

354,000 

67,000 

239,000 

47,000 

600 

95,000 

39,000 

1,100 

408,000 

154,000 

63,000 

46,000 

17,000 

91,000 

62,000 

29,000 

2.54,000 

211,000 

168,000 

43,000 

700 

600 

100 

42,000 

321,000 

45,000 

238,000 

38,000 

400 

82,000 

30,000 

200 

32,000 

Fishing          , .                  

Steam  and  motor 

Outfit 

Sail 

Vessels                                       -  . 

Outfit 

Transporting                                       

32,000 
32,000 

Vessels  .                     

25,000 

Outfit 

7,400 

SaU        

400 

Vessels 

400 

Outfit 

Other 

Boats 

33,000 

Rteftm  ftnd  mot/^r 

22,000 

Sail 

1,000 

Row    .          

9,900 

Other 

lOO 

13,000 

9,000 

Cash 

900 

In  1908  slightly  over  half  of  the  investment  in  Loui- 
siana fisheries,  or  $479,000,  was  in  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  Transporting  vessels  accounted  for  $289,000 
of  the  capital,  and  fishing  vessels  for  $162,000.  Of  the 
value  of  shore  and  accessory  property,  $1,200  per- 
tained to  vessel  fisheries,  $2,500  to  transporting  ves- 
sels, and  $35,000  to  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Of  the 
cash  capital,  $900  was  reported  in  connection  with  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  the  Mississippi  River  dis- 
trict, and  $200  in  connection  with  transporting  ves- 
sels in  the  Gulf  district.  Over  85  per  cent  of  the  total 
capital  was  invested  in  craft  of  various  kinds  and  their 
outfits. 

The  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels  and  the  number 
of  boats  were  as  follows : 


CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 


Vessels: 

Number 

Tonnage 

Fishing — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Steam  and  motor- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Transporting — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Steam  and  motor- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Sail— 

Numbel" 

Tormage 

Other,  number 

Boats,  number 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Other 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 


Total. 


222 
2,082 

126 
979 

18 
205 

108 

774 

96 
1,103 

71 
1,082 

3 

21 

22 

4,469 

192 

886 

3,352 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 


210 
1,961 


126 
979 


.    18 
205 


108 
774 


84 


61 
975 

1 

7 

22 

3,846 

116 

876 

2,818 


Mississippi 
River 

district. 


12 
121 


12 
121 


10 

107 


2 
14 


623 
76 
10 

534 
3 


The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of  apparatus  used 
is  shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


Cast  nets 

Dip  nets 

Firearms 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

GUI  nets 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc. : 

Pots,  crawfish 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

Seines 

Shrimp  nets 

Trammel  nets 

Traps— mink,  muskrat,  and  otter. 
Traps,  turtle 


APPARATUS  or  capture:  1908. 


Total. 


373 

1,142 

605 

1,026 

62 

100 

466 

3 

314 

3,803 

8 

60,770 

600 


Distributed  by 
districts. 


Gull  of 
Mexico 
dis- 
trict. 


345 
758 
602 
160 
59 
100 
226 


285 

48 

8 

60,770 

600 


Missis- 
sippi 
River 
dis- 
trict. 


28 

384 

3 


240 

3 

29 

3,755 


Distributed  by 
class  of 
fisheries. 


Vessel, 
fish- 


20 


Shore 
and 
boat 
fish- 
eries. 


373 

1,142 

605 

1,026 

55 

100 

466 

3 

294 

3,803 

8 

60,770 

.   SOO 


Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  135,  gives 
statistics  for  1908  of  the  quantity  and  value  of  the 
product  of  the  Louisiana  fisheries  by  species  and  by 
apparatus  of  capture.     Forty-one  species  made  up 


132 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


this  product.  Oysters  represented  more  than  one- 
half  its  weight  and  about  half  its  value.  Ranked 
according  to  value  of  product,  shi'imp,  catfish,  sque- 
teague,  and  mink  skins  followed,  in  the  order  named, 
and  together  with  oysters  amounted  to  39,662,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,277,000,  or  86  per  cent  of  the 
total  weight  and  81  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  In 
1897  the  four  species  of  fish  named  were  in  the  lead, 
and  contributed  about  80  per  cent  of  the  total  weight 
and  83  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  Mink  skins  were 
not  reported  at  the  canvass  of  1897. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — Table  2,  on  page  136, 
gives,  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture,  the  weight 
and  value  of  the  products  of  the  Louisiana  fisheries 
in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  Of  the  forty-odd  species  taken  in 
Louisiana  fisheries,  27  were  reported  exclusively  from 
the  GuH  of  Mexico  district.  The  value  of  the  entire 
product  of  this  district  was  $1,448,000,  while  the 
value  reported  for  these  27  species  was  $1,115,000. 
Among  the  latter  the  oysters,  as  would  be  expected, 
were  the  most  important,  having  a  value  of  $763,000. 
The  next  in  value  of  the  products  reported  only  for  the 
Gulf  fisheries  were  squeteague  and  mink  skins,  valued 
at  $82,000  and  $77,000,  respectively;  while  other  im- 
portant products  were  salt-water  drum  (channel  bass) , 
croakers,  soft  crabs,  and  terrapin,  valued  at  $39,000, 
$28,000,  $21,000,  and  $21,000,  respectively. 

The  product  reported  by  the  fisheries  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  and  its  tributaries,  all  of  which  are  of  the 
shore  and  boat  class,  had  about  one-eleventh  the 
weight  and  one-tweKth  the  value  of  that  reported  for 
the  Gulf  district.  The  distribution  of  the  products 
of  these  fisheries  is  shown  in  Table  3,  on  page  136. 
Fifteen  species  comprised  the  river  product,  five  of 
which — carp,  crappie,  eels,  pike  perch  (wall-eyed) ,  and 
suckers — were  not  found  in  the  GuK  product.  Catfish, 
buffalo  fish,  and  shrimp,  in  the  order  named,  were  the 
most  valuable  species  in  the  products  of  this  district, 
furnishing  a  little  more  than  three-fourths  of  both  the 
weight  and  the  value  of  the  catch.  Catfish  and  buffalo 
fish  headed  the  list  in  1899  also,  together  representing 
at  that  time  three-fourths  of  the  weight  and  two-thirds 
of  the  value  of  the  products  from  the  district. 

The  value  of  the  different  products  reported  for 
1908,  arranged  in  the  order  of  importance,  is  shown 
in  the  next  tabular  statement  for  the  state  as  a 
whole  and  for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  Mississippi  River 
districts. 

Of  the  species  reported  for  both  the  Gulf  and  the 
river  fisheries,  shrimp  and  catfish  were  the  most  val- 
uable. The  shrimp  product  reported  by  the  Gulf 
district  was  valued  at  $196,000  and  the  river  product 
at  only  about  one-twelfth  as  much,  $17,000;  the  cat- 
fish product  of  the  Gulf  district  was  valued  at  $89,000 
and  the  river  product  at  $54,000.  The  total  value  of 
the  other  species  common  to  both  districts,  including 


caviar,  was  $90,000,  of  which  the  Gulf  fisheries  con- 
tributed $47,000  and  the  river  fisheries  $43,000.  In 
the  case  of  three  species — namely,  black  bass,  fresh- 
water drum,  and  paddlefish — the  greater  value  came 
from  the  Mississippi  River  district,  while  in  the  case 
of  the  four  remaining  species— bream,  buffalo  fish, 
crawfish,  and  turtles— the  product  of  the  Gulf  dis- 
trict represented  the  greater  value. 


Total 

Fish 

Catfish 

Squeteague 

Buffalo 

Drum  (salt-water),  or  channel  bass 

Croaker 

Sheepshead 

Drum,  fresh-water 

AH  other 

Oysters 

Shrimp 

Skins— mink,  rauskrat,  and  otter 

Crabs,  soft 

Terrapin 

Hides,  alligator 

All  other 


VALUE  or  PEODDCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


Jl,  569, 000 


419,000 
143,000 
82,000 
50,000 
39,000 
28.000 
18.000 
15.000 
45,000 
7(13.000 
213,000 
98.000 
21,000 
21.000 
11.000 
24,000 


Gulf  Of 
Mexico 

district. 


$1,448,000 


310,000 
89,000 
82,000 

.  28,000 
39,000 
28,000 
18,000 
0,900 
20,000 

763,000 

196,000 
98,000 
21,000 
21,000 
11,000 
22,000 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


1121,000 


103,000 
54.000 


22,000 


8,400 
19,000 


17,000 


1,700 


Products,  fry  class  of  fisheries. — The  products  of  the 
vessel  fisheries  of  Louisiana  are  shown  in  Table  4,  on 
page  137,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 
These  fisheries,  all  of  which  are  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
are  of  small  proportions,  their  products  representing 
only  15  per  cent  of  the  total  weight  and  11  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  for  the  state.  Of  the  product  of  the 
vessel  fisheries,  oysters  contributed  92  per  cent  in 
weight  and  84  per  cent  in  value;  the  remainder  com- 
prised 18  species,  all  of  which  were  taken  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf.  Shore  and  boat 
fisheries  were  common  to  both  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and 
the  Mississippi  River  districts.  This  class  of  fisheries 
formed  the  most  important  branch  not  only  of  the 
Gulf  fisheries  but  also  of  the  fisheries  of  the  state 
as  a  whole,  furnishing  a  total  product  of  39,344,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,395,000,  or  nearly  six  times 
the  quantity  and  over  eight  times  the  value  of  the 
product  of  the  vessel  fisheries.  Statistics  as  to  the 
products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf 
fishing  grounds  are  given  in  Table  5,  on  page  137. 
Seventy-seven  per  cent  of  the  total  weight  and  81 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  products  of  the 
Louisiana  fisheries  came  from  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district.  Hence  the  leading 
species  for  this  district  were  the  same  as  those  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  entire  state.  AH  the  skins  included 
in  the  state  product  were  from  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  dis- 
tribution, by  species,  of  the  value  of  products  between 
the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries : 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


138 


VALVE 

OF  PKODUCTS:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

11, 569,000 

1174,000 

11,395,000 

Fish                              

419,000 
143.000 
82.000 
50,000 

39,000 
28,000 
18,000 
15.000 
45.000 
763,000 
213,000 
98,000 
21,000 
21,000 
11,000 
24,000 

10,000 
i.:f0o 

6,000 

(') 

2,700 
3,.')00 
2,000 
400 
l,S0O 
146,000 
8,800 

404,000 

141,000 

Sqiieteague 

77,000 

Buffalo                                             

50,000 

Drum  (salt-wat«r),  channel  bass,  or  red 
fish           .                  

.30,000 

24,000 

16,000 

15,000 

44,000 

Oysters                                        

017,000 

204,000 

98,000 

21,000 

Terrapin                  

2,900 

18,000 

11,000 

COO 

23,000 

1  Less  than 

HOO. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture.— The  distribution 
of  the  total  value  of  products  by  apparatus  of  capture 
for  1908,  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  the  two  classes 
of  fisheries,  was  as  follows : 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Seines 

Lines 

Mink,  muskrat,  and  otter  traps 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Shrimp  nets 

Dip  nets 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  PBODUCT3:   1908. 


Total. 


$1,569,000 


763, 
400, 
203, 
98, 
32, 
19, 
15, 
41. 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


tl74,000 

146,000 
28,000 


100 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


Jl.  395, 000 

617,000 
372,000 
203,000 
98,000 
32,000 
19,000 
15,000 
41,000 


Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  were  the  principal  apparatus  of 
capture  used  in  both  classes  of  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  dis- 
trict. Except  for  a  very  small  quantity  of  periwinkles, 
oysters  were  the  only  species  taken  by  this  kind  of 
apparatus.  The  proportions  given  below  for  oysters 
apply  in  full  to  the  product  taken  with  dredges, 
tongs,  etc. 

The  weight  and  value  of  the  product  taken  by  seines 
made  them  second  in  importance  as  an  apparatus  of 
capture  in  the  entire  state  and  in  each  branch  of  the 
Gulf  fisheries.  Seines  were  used  for  taking  30  species, 
chief  of  which  were  shrimp,  squeteague  (or  sea  trout) , 
and  buffalo  fish.  The  value  of  the  catch  by  this  form 
of  apparatus  represented  nine-tenths  of  the  value  of  the 
shrimp  taken  in  the  state,  more  than  two-thirds  of  the 
value  of  the  squeteague,  and  more  than  one-half  of  the 
value  of  the  buffalo  fish.  Practically  all  of  the  shrimp 
taken  either  in  the  vessel  fisheries  or  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district  and  practically  all  of 
the  squeteague  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries  were 
caught  with  seines.  Of  the  squeteague  product  taken 
by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  74  per  cent  of  the 
quantity  was  taken  by  seines.  In  1897  seines  showed 
a  product  slightly  heavier  than  that  of  tongs,  but  the 
value  of  the  catch  was  not  relatively  as  important  as 
in  1908. 


Lines  were  third  in  importance  as  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  district 
and  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  a.s  a  whole.  They 
ranked  first  in  the  Mississippi  River  fisheries,  but 
were  not  employed  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  Twenty- 
two  species  made  up  the  catch  by  lines  for  the  state; 
yet  one  species,  catfish,  contributed  58  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  this  product,  as  well  as  50  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  the  product  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of 
the  Gulf.  In  1897  the  total  catch  by  lines  was 
3,150,000  pounds,  valued  at  $64,000,  almost  three- 
fifths  as  much  as  the  quantity  reported  in  1908,  but 
representing  a  value  less  than  a  third  as  great. 

A  great  many  other  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture 
were  used  to  take  the  remainder  of  the  product,  which 
was  valued  at  $203,000  and  represented  about  one- 
eighth  of  the  value  for  the  entire  state.  The  most 
important  of  these  kinds  of  apparatus  were  fyke  and 
hoop  nets,  which  took  products  valued  at  $32,000, 
and  shrimp  nets  and  dip  nets,  which  took  products 
valued  at  $19,000  and  $15,000,  respectively.  To 
minor  apparatus  $20,000  was  credited. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  distribu- 
tion of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products,  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  between  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the 
Mississippi  River  districts : 


VALUE 

OF  products:  1908. 

KIND   OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Total                            

11,569,000 

$1,448,000 

$121,000 

763,000 
400,000 
203,000 
98,000 
32,000 
19,000 
15,000 
41,000 

763,000 

383,000 

141,000 

98,000 

7,800 

1,500 

15,000 

39,000 

17,000 

61,000 

24,000 

17,000 

Din  nets                                         

2,200 

Oysters. — In  1908  the  Louisiana  oyster  product 
amounted  to  3,650,000  bushels,  or,  computed  on  the 
basis  of  contained  meat,  25,553,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$763,000.  That  this  product  represents  a  remarkable 
growth  over  previous  years  is  shown  by  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


OTSTER  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(busbels). 

Value. 

Per  cent  of  total  for 
all  fishery  products. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908    

3,650,000 
959,000 
842.000 
295,000 

$763,000 
4.33,000 
300,000 
200,000 

55 
39 
28 
29 

49 

1897                        

61 

1890 

45 

61 

The  gain  in  the  quantity  of  oysters  between  1897  and 
1908  constitutes  two- thirds  of  the  gain  in  the  entire 
fishery  product  of  the  state,  while  for  the  period  from 


134 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


1880  to  1908  it  constitutes  about  three-fifths  of  the  total 
gain.  The  price  of  oysters,  however,  has  fallen  to  such 
an  extent  that,  although  the  quantity  in  1908  was 
more  than  three  and  one-half  times  as  large  as  in  1897 
and  about  four  and  one-half  times  as  large  as  in  1890, 
the  value  of  the  product  increased  only  76  per  cent  in 
the  former  period  and  154  per  cent  in  the  latter. 

Oysters  were  reported  only  from  the  Gulf  district. 
Here  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  took  2,763,000  bush- 
els, valued  at  $617,000,  and  the  vessel  fisheries  888,000 
bushels,  valued  at  $146,000.  While  the  "relaying"  of 
oysters  in  saltwater  in  order  to  improve  their  flavor  was 
quite  extensive  in  1880,  according  to  the  Geographical 
Keview  of  the  Fisheries,"  very  little  oyster  planting  was 
done  at  that  date.  Although  the  planting  seems  to 
have  reached  a  considerable  extent  by  1 897 ,  the  first  col- 
lected data  are  those  of  the  present  census.  In  1908 
over  one-third  of  the  market  oysters  came  from  pri- 
vate areas.  As  the  price  of  oysters  from  private  areas, 
owing  to  their  superior  flavor,  is  much  higher  than  that 
of  oysters  from  pubhc  areas,  the  product  from  the 
former  areas,  though  much  smaller  in  quantity,  was 
nearly  as  valuable  as  the  product  from  the  latter.  In 
the  case  of  seed  oysters  conditions  were  reversed,  the 
yield  of  the  pubhc  areas,  which  formed  only  about  six- 
sevenths  of  the  quantity  of  seed  oysters,  representing 
thirteen-fourteenths  of  the  value. 

The  practice  of  relaying  mature  oysters  to  improve, 
their  flavor  probably  accounts  in  part  for  the  high 
average  price  of  the  seed  oysters  taken  from  the  public 
areas  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  as  compared  with 
the  price  of  the  seed  oysters  in  the  same  class  of  fish- 
eries taken  from  private  areas. 

Shrimp. — Ninety-six  per  cent  of  the  shrimp  taken 
and  88  per  cent  of  their  value  were  credited  to  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  district.  Of 
the  remaining  product,  the  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi 
River  and  its  tributaries  furnished  a  Uttle  more  than 
two-fifths  of  the  weight  and  nearly  two-thirds  of  the 
value.  The  growth  in  the  shrimp  product  within  the 
period  for  which  statistics  are  available  has  been  very 
irregular,  as  is  shown  in  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment: 

'  The  Fisheries  and  Fishery  Industries  of  the  United  States,  sec- 
tion 2,  p.  580. 


SHRIMP  PRODUCT. 

TEAE. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                                                           

8.581.000 

4,487,000 

6,662,000 

534,000 

1213,000 

1897 

81,000 

1890                       .                              

91,000 

1880 

42.000 

Catfish. — In  order  of  value  catfish  ranked  third  in 
the  state  as  a  whole  and  in  the  Gulf  district,  and  first 
in  the  Mississippi  River  district,  where  it  contributed 
39  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  45  per  cent  of  the  value 
of  the  entire  product.  More  than  one-third  of  the 
value  of  the  entire  catfish  haul  came  from  the  Missis- 
sippi River  fisheries,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  very 
small  quantity  reported  by  vessel  fisheries  all  of  the 
remainder  was  from  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the 
Gulf.  The  species  has  shared  in  the  general  increase 
shown  by  the  products  of  the  Louisiana  fisheries.  In 
1880  it  was  not  reported  separately,  but  was  included 
in  "Other  species;"  in  1897  the  yield  was  1,950,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $47,000;  and  in  1908  the  product 
was  more  than  twice  as  large  and  more  than  three 
times  as  valuable. 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout. — Tliis  species  was  taken  only 
in  the  Gulf  district,  92  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  94 
per  cent  of  the  value  being  reported  by  the  shore  and 
boat  fishermen.  The  weight  of  the  catch  taken  haa 
nearly  doubled,  and  its  value  has  trebled  since  1897. 
In  1880  the  squeteague  was  included  under  the  head 
of  "Other  species." 

Buffalo  fish. — Buffalo  fish,  like  catfish,  were  taken 
but  little  in  vessel  fisheries.  In  1908  they  ranked  tliird 
among  the  fishery  products  of  the  state  and  second 
among  the  products  of  the  Mississippi  River  district. 
Over  half  of  the  weight  of  the  buffalo-fish  catch  was 
reported  by  the  Mississippi  River  district,  but  the 
Gulf  shore  and  boat  catch,  less  by  about  40,000  pounds, 
had  a  greater  value.  In  1 880  buff'alo  fish  were  included 
under  the  head  of  "Other  species,"  and  in  1897  they 
furnished  a  product  which  had  only  about  one-eighth 
of  the  weight  and  one-tenth  of  the  value  of  that  of  1908. 

Mink  sHns. — This  product,  which  ranked  fifth  with 
respect  to  value  at  the  census  of  1908,  was  not  reported 
at  prior  canvasses. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— LOUISIANA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


135 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

GiU  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

46,106,000 

Jl,  509, 000 

12,496,000 

J400,000 

5,329,000 

$203,000 

1,758,000 

132,000 

71,000 

$5,800 

24,000 

$900 

26,427,000 

$928,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

40,000 
2,800 
40,000 
2,626,000 
12,000 

4,405,000 

96,000 

24,000 

369,000 

845,000 

716,000 
71,000 
133,000 
132,000 

5,600 

1,100 

249,000 

4,900 

1,103,000 

6,000 

61,000 

152,000 

38,000 

244,000 

78,000 

88,000 

8,581,000 

41,000 

215,000 

100 

'13,363,000 

*  7, 399, 000 

M,091,000 

•700,000 
200 

'110,000 
8  20,000 
•40,000 
'•1,100 

3,300 

100 

2,200 

50,000 

1,000 

143,000 

6,400 

1,400 

28,000 

15,000 

39,000 
6,000 
5,f»0 
5,000 

4,400 

100 

18,000 

500 

82,000 

100 

3,200 

5,100 

4,500 

7,800 

21,000 

3,600 

213,000 
21,000 
7,800 
(») 

341,000 

334.000 

82,000 

6,200 

11,000 
77,000 
16,000 
4,700 

9,700 

2,700 

21,000 

1,226,000 

10,000 

442,000 

7,000 

5,100 

259,000 

118,000 

538,000 
16,000 

10li,000 
99,000 

5,500 

1,100 

186,000 

4,900 

840,000 

800 

100 

1,200 

29,000 

800 

14,000 

400 

100 

18,000 

3,600 

27,000 
1,100 
3,900 
3,700 

4,400 

100 

12,000 

500 

56,000 

30,000 

2,500 

Blueflsh 



Bream,  or  siinfish 

20,000 

372,000 

2,000 

3,617,000 

88,000 

19,000 

108,000 

311,000 

156,000 
38,000 
20,000 
21,000 

1,000 

5,900 

200 

118,000 
6,000 
1,300 
9,000 
5,000 

11,000 

3,500 

1,400 

800 

Buffalo  fish 

998,000 

15,000 

30,000 

Carp 

Catfish 

339,000 

10,000 

1,000 

100 

6,200 

200 

Crappie 

Crevallfi 

2,200 

200 

500 
1,100 

5,400 

100 

1,700 

10,000 

[51 

200 
(») 
(•) 

400 

100 

(«) 

Drum,  (resh-watcr 

415,000 

6,100 

Drum  (salt-water), chan- 
nel bass,  or  ro<lfish 

16,000 
16,000 
3,200 

1,400 

1,400 

200 

200 

(') 

Mullet         .... 

2,500 

100 

Paddleflsh 

2,000 

100 

Pompano 

61,000 

5,900 

2,200 

200 

600 

(•) 

200 

(•) 

Spanish  mackerel 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout. . 

232,000 

23,000 

27,000 

2,200 

3,900 

200 

Suckers 

6,000 

100 

Yellowtail 

64,000 
1,700 

3,200 
100 

... 

All  other 

151,000 

5,000 

100 

(«) 

Frogs 

38,000 
102,000 
40,000 
86,000 

236,000 

29,000 

133,000 

100 

13,363,000 

•7,399,000 

H,091,000 

•700,000 
200 

'110,000 
•20,000 
•40,000 
'»  1, 100 

4,500 
2,900 
9,600 
3,500 

19,000 
12,000 

4,800 

(•) 

341,000 
334  000 

Crabs,  hard 

80,000 
39,000 

3,300 
12,000 

60,000 

1,600 

1,500 

100 

Crabs,  soft 

Crawfish 

1,800 

100 

Shrimp 

8,346,000 
12,000 
58,000 

194,000 
9,500 
1,600 

Turtles 

21,000 

1,200 

2,600 

200 

Clams,  hard 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 
areas 

Oysters,   market,   from  pri- 
vate areas 

Oysters,    seed    from   public 
areas 

82,000 
6  200 

Oysters,  seed,  fi-om  private 
areas 



Periwinkles 

11,000 
77,000 
16,000 
4  700 

Hides,  alligator 

Skins,  mink 

Skins,  muskrat 

Skins,  otter. .                   ... 



'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  25,553.000  pounds,  valued  at  $763,000;  mink,  muskrat,  and  otter  traps,  60,000  pounds,  valued  at  $98,000- 
shrimp  nets,  233.000  pounds,  valued  at  $19,000;  dip  nets,  167,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  firearms,  101,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,900;  crawfish  pots,  81,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $2,900;  pound  and  trap  nets,  36,000  pounds,  valued  at  $800;  cast  nets,  4,200  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  mmor  apparatus,  191,000  pounds,  valued  at  $20,000 

•  Less  than  $100.  »  584,000  bushels.  »  39,000  skins. 

»  1,909,000  bushels.  •  100,000  bushels.  •  119,000  skins. 

«  1,067,000  bushels.  '  22,000  hides.  "  600  skins. 


136 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— LOUISIANA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  GULF  OF  MEXICO  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUOHI  BT— 

sPEcnca. 

Seines. 

.   Lines. 

Fylte  and  hoop 
nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

0  ill  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.! 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Qoantitv 
(pounds). 

Viilue. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value, 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

42,302,000 

$1,448,000 

12,114,000 

1383,000 

3,592,000 

1141,000 

296,000 

t7,800 

71,000 

$5,800 

14.000 

t(i00 

20,216,000 

$909,000 

Fish: 

RIark  bass 

12,000 
2,800 

35,000 
1,293,000 
2,937,000 

24,000 
369,000 
266,000 

716,000 
71,000 

133,000 

48,000 

1,100 

249,000 

4,900 

1,103.000 
64.000 
142,000 

38,000 

244,000 

78,000 

79,000 

8,415,000 

41,000 

211,000 

100 

•13,363,000 

•7,399,000 

'4,091,000 

•700,000 
200 

'  110,000 
•20,000 
•40,000 
"1,100 

1,100 
100 

1,900 
28,000 
89,000 

1,400 

28,000 

6,900 

39,000 
6,000 

5,600 

1,400 

100 

18,000 

500 

82,000 
3,200 
4,300 

4,500 

7,800 

21,000 

2,000 

196,000 
21.000 
7,700 
(') 

341,000 

334,000 

82,000 

6,200 

m 

11,000 
77,000 
16,000 
4,700 

8,800 

2,800 

21,000 

1,022,000 

362,000 

5,100 
259,000 
116,000 

538.000 
16,000 

106.000 

27,000 

1.100 

185,000 

4,900 

840,000 

64,000 

1,700 

800 

100 

1,200 

23,000 

11,000 

100 
18,000 
3,600 

27,000 
1,100 

3,900 

5(X) 

100 

12,000 

600 

56.000 

3,200 

100 

3,700 

300 

15.000 

254.000 

2,343,000 

19.000 
108,000 
102,000 

156,000 
38,000 

20,000 
21,000 

700 

4,400 

71,000 

1,300 
9,000 
2,600 

11.000 
3,500 

1,400 
800 

iiooo 

232,000 

300 
6,700 

Catfish 

1,000 

100 

200 

,, 

(') 

Crevalld 

2,200 

200 

500 
1,100 

5,400 
100 

1,700 

m 

200 
(») 

(») 

100 

(') 

47,000 

800 

Drum  (salt-water), 
channel  bass,  or 
red  fish 

16,000 
16,000 

3,200 

1.400 
1,400 

200 

200 

(') 

Mullet              

2,500 

100 

61,000 

5,900 

2,200 

200 

0(X) 

m 

200 

(1) 

Spanish  mackerel... 
Squeteague,  or  sea 

232,000 

23,000 

27,000 

2,200 

3,900 

200 

YcUowtail 

140,000 

4,200 

100 

(') 

Frogs 

38.000 
102,000 
40.000 
77,000 

70,000 

29,000 

133,000 

100 

•13,363,000 

< 7,399,000 

M, 091, 000 

•  700,000 
200 

I  110.000 
•20,000 
•  40,000 
w 1,100 

4,500 

80,000 
39,000 

3.300 
12,000 

60,000 

1,600 

1,500 

100 

2,900 

9,600 

Crawfish 

1,800 

100 

2,000 

8,346,000 
12,000 
58,000 

194,000 
9,500 
1,600 

2.100 

12.000 

17,000 

1,100 

2,600 

200 

4,800 

(') 

Oysters,  market,  from 

341,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

334,000 

Oysters,  seed ,  from  pub- 

82,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pri- 

6,200 

w 

Hides,  alligator 

11.000 

Skins  mink 

77.000 

111.000 

Skins  otter 

4,700 

1  Includes  apparatus, with  catch, as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,etc.,25,5,'i3.000pounds,  valued  at  $703,000;  mink,  maskrat, and  otter  traps,  60,000  pounds,  value<i  at  $98,000; 
dip  nets,  107,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  firearms,  101,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,900;  crawfish  pots,  74,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,900;  shrimp  nets,  64,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$1,600;  cast  nets,  4,200  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus.  191 ,000  pounds,  valued  at  $20,000 

•  Less  than  im  '  fM.IXXi  bushels.  •  .39,000  skins. 

•1,909,000  bushels.  « !(X),(XIO  bttsheLs.  •  119,0(K)  skins. 

<  1,057,000  bushels.  '  22,000  hides.  '»  600  skins. 


Table  3.— LOUISIANA- 

-FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 

' 

TOTAL. 

PSODVCT  CADOHT  BY— 

sraciEs. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.* 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value, 

Total 

3,803,000 

$121,000 

1,738,000 

$61,000 

1,463,000 

$24,000 

382,000 

$17,000 

10,000 

$400 

211,000 

$19,000 

Flah: 

28,000 

5,000 

1,333,000 

12,000 
1,467,000 

96,000 
580,000 

84,000 
5,600 
6,000 

10,000 

9,400 

166,000 

4,000 

2,200 

200 

22,000 

1,000 
64,000 

.  6,400 

8,400 

3,600 

4,400 

100 

800 

1,600 

17,000 

100 

26,000 

6,000 

118,000 

2,000 

1,274,000 

88,000 
209,000 

2,200 
200 

1,500 

200 

47,000 

6,000 
3,000 

■■■9 

1,000 

100 

981,000 

16,000 

204,000 
10,000 
80,000 

7,000 
2,000 
72,000 
5,500 

6,266 

800 

2,800 

400 
(') 

3,200 
4,400 

30,000 

600 

Catfish 

106,000 

3,600 

6,000 

200 

308,000 
2,000 

5,300 
100 

Paddlefljih 

10,000 

400 

5,000 

100 

10,000 

800 



Crawfish 

9,400 
166,000 

1,600 

17,000 

Turtles 

4,000 

100 

■  All  taken  In  the  shore  and  boat  flsheriea. 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catob,  as  follows:  Shrimp  nets,  169,000  pounds,  valued  at  $17,000;  crawfish  pots,  6,200  pounds,  valued  at  $1,000;  and  pound  and  trap  nets,  .36,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $800. 

>  UisB  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Tabls  4.— LOUISIANA— products  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


187 


Total. 


Flab: 

Catfish 

CroakiT 

Drum.  fn\sh-\vutvr 

Druiii  (salt-wulri ),  channel  bass,  or  redOiih . 
Flounders 


Mullet 

ShtYixshead 

Sqiu'tenciie,  or  sea  trout. 
Another 


Crabs,  hard. 

Shrimp 

Terrapin . . . . 
Turtles 


Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas. . 
Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas. 

Oysters,  8ee<l.  from  public  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private  areas 


(Quantity 
(pounds). 


•,703,000 


48,000 
50,000 
18,0(X) 
58.000 
2,800 

15,0(X) 

32.0(X) 

92,0(X) 

2,100 

4,100 

20S,(XX) 

3,000 

17.000 

•3.559,000 

•1,678,000 

•1,011,000 

•08,000 


Value. 


1174,000 


i.aoo 

3,300 
400 

2,700 
200 

,W0 
2.000 
6.0(X) 

100 

300 
8,800 
2,900 

300 

81,000 

56,000 

8,100 

600 


raoDXKrr  CADOBT  BT— 


Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 


(Quantity 
(pounds). 


6,215,000 


•  3,559,000 

•1,678,000 

•1,011,000 

•68,000 


Value. 


»14e,000 


81,000 

5«.000 

8.100 

fiOO 


GUI  nets. 


(Quantity 
(pounds). 


545,000 


48,000 
49,000 
18,000 
57,000 
2,800 

15,000 

32,000 

92,000 

2,100 

4.100 

206,000 

3,000 

17,000 


Value. 


138,000 


1,300 
3,300 

400 
3,600 

300 

500 
2,000 
5,000 

100 

300 
8,800 
3,900 

300 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,300 


« 


(') 


600 


(') 


300 
100 
400 


Value. 


tlOO 


^] 


f:i 


Less  than  100  pounds. 


■  Less  than  tlOO. 


•  508,000  bushels. 


•  225,000  bushels. 


•  144,000  bushels. 


•  9,700  bushels. 


Tablb  «.— LOUISIANA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF  GULF  OF  MEXICO  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODDCT  CAVORT  BT— 

sraoEs. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

QUI  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus. 1 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

QuanUty 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

VBlue. 

Total 

35,541,000 

11,174,000 

11,«8,000 

1355,000 

3,583,000 

8141,000 

396,000 

r,800 

71,000 

85,800 

13,000 

8500 

30,001,000 

1763,000 

Fish: 

12.  (XX) 

2,  UK) 

35.  (XX) 

1.293.  (XX) 

2,889.000 

24.000 
:!2().0(X) 
248,000 

658,000 
68,000 

118,000 

48.000 

800 

217,000 

4,000 

1.011,000 

64,000 

142,000 

38,000 
240, 0(X) 
78,000 
79,000 

8.210,000 

38.000 

194.000 

100 

•9,805,000 

6.').  821, 000 

"3,080,000 

'032,000 
200 

•110,000 

«2o,ax) 

'•40.000 
"  1,100 

1,100 
UX) 

I.IKX) 
28.0(K) 
88,  (|W) 

1,4(X) 

24,000 

6,600 

36,000 
6,800 

5,100 

1,400 

100 

16,000 

400 

77,000 

8,300 

4,300 

4,500 

7,500 

21,000 

2,000 

187,000 
18,000 
7,400 
(»5 

300,000 

278,000 

74,000 

6,600 
(») 

11,000 

77,000 

16,000 

4,700 

8,800 

2,  UK) 

21.  (XX) 

1,022.  (XX) 

313. 0(X) 

,1. 100 

2(XI.(XX) 

98.  (XX) 

481. 0(X) 

i;i,ooo 

91.000 

27,  (XX) 

800 

lf)3,(XX) 

4,000 

749. 0(X) 

04.000 

1,000 

800 

10(1 

1.2(X) 

23.  (XX) 

10,  (XX) 

100 
l.'i.  (KXI 
3.  UX) 

24,000 
900 

3,400 

600 

10(1 

U),(XX) 

400 

51. (XX) 

3,2(X) 

100 

3,700 

"300 

Illiu'fish 

15,000 

2.14.  (XX) 

2,34:1,000 

19.000 
108.  (XX) 
102,  (XX) 

DiCi.OOO 
38,000 

20,  (XX) 
21,000 

700 
4,4(X) 
71,0(X) 

L.lflO 
9.(KX) 
2,ti00 

11.000 
3.,'iOO 

1,400 
800 

Riiffalo  fish      

17.000 
232,000 

300 
6,700 

Catfish 

1,000 

(•) 

300 

(•) 

CrevftlW  

Ooftker            

2,300 

300 

1,100 

4,800 
lOU 

1,600 

200 
(•) 

(') 

100 

(•) 

47,000 

800 

Dniiii  (srtlt-water),  chaii- 

16,000 
16,000 

8,300 

1,400 
1,400 

200 

200 

(•) 

Klotindors  

Mullet         

3,600 

100 

Fftddleflsh 

61,000 

5,900 

3,300 

300 

500 

(>) 

300 

(•) 

Spanish  niftokerel 

Squrleugtu',  or  sea  trout. 
Yellciwtail      

232,000 

23,000 

27,000 

3,300 

3,600 

200 

All  other 

140,000 

4,300 

(•) 

(•) 

38,000 
103,000 
40,000 

77,000 

70.fl(X) 

29,  (XX) 

133,  ax) 

100 

•9,806,  (XX) 

•5,821,000 

•3,080,000 

'632.000 
200 

•  uo.mx) 

•20.000 

'»40,0(X) 

»  1,100 

4,500 

7(1,000 
39,000 

3.0(X) 
12,  (XX) 

00,000 

1,800 

1,500 

100 

3,900 

Cral)s  soft 

9,600 

1,800 

100 

2,000 

8,141,000 
8,900 
41,000 

185,000 
6,700 
1,200 

2, 1(X) 

12,  (XX) 

17,000 

1,100 

3,600 

200 

4.800 

(") 

Oysters,  market,  from  pub- 

• 

2(K),000 

Oysters,  market,  from  prl- 

278,000 

Oyslers,  .seed,  from  public 

74,000 

Oyslcr.s,  .seed,  from  private 

6,  (XX) 

(») 

II. (XX) 

77.000 

111.  (XX) 

Skins  otter            .       .   . 

4,7(K) 

>  Includes  apparatu.i.  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  19,3,18,000  poiuids,  valued  at  1617,000;  mink,  nraikrat,  and  otter  traps.  60,000  pounds,  valued  at 
(98,0(X);  dip  iiet.s,  li'>7.(XX)  potmds,  valued  at  $14,000:  firearms,  101,000  pounds,  valued  at  89,900;  crawfish  pots,  74,000  pounds,  valued  at  81,900;  shrimp  nets,  (14,000  pounds, 
Talue<l  at  $1,.'XX):  east  nets,  4,^M)  pounds,  value<l  at  $2(X);  and  minor  apparatus,  l!)l,(XX)  pounds,  valued  at  $20,(XX). 

>  Less  than  tlUO.  •  l,40r,(XX)  bu.sliels.  °  440,IXX)  liushnls.  ■  22.(XX)  hides.  «>  1 19,000  skins. 
•  Less  than  lOU  pounds.                           '  832,0(X)  bushels.                                '  gO,0(KI  bashels.                               •  .39,(XXJ  skins.  "  000  skins. 


138 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


MAINK. 


The  fishing  industry  of  Maine  is  confined  to  sea  and 
shore  fisheries  along  the  Atlantic  coast;  but  because 
of  the  peculiarly  ragged  and  uneven  coast  line  and  the 
many  outlying  islands,  the  state  possesses  special  ad- 
vantages among  the  states  in  which  commercial  fishing 
is  carried  on.  In  the  total  value  of  fishery  products 
Maine  ranked  second  among  the  New  England  states 
in  1908  and  seventh  among  all  the  states;  in  the  value 
of  lobsters,  soft  clams,  and  herring  caught  it  ranked 
first,  and  in  the  value  of  cod,  haddock,  and  hake 
second. 

The  following  statement  presents  a  summary  of  the 
most  important  statistics  for  the  fisheries  of  Maine  in 
1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 6,  861 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $1,  669, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 576,000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 166, 000 

Value  of  products 3,  257, 000 

Comparison  vntJi  previous  canvasses. — The  principal 
statistics  of  the  Maine  fisheries  for  1908,  in  comparison 
with  the  returns  for  certain  earlier  years  for  which  can- 
vasses were  made,  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE   OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PEODUcra. 

TEAE. 

Total. 

Vessels  and 
boats, 

including 
outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1889 

6,857 
7,442 
9,207 
8,717 
8,885 

J2, 245. 000 
1,606,000 
1,732,000 
1,434,000 
1,475,000 

Jl, 669,000 
1,179.000 
1,255,000 
1,006,000 
1,051,000 

$576,000 
428,000 
476,000 
429.000 
424,000 

173,843,000 
124,724,000 
242,390,000 
123,40.5,000 
129,560,000 

$3,257,000 
2,386,000 
2,919,000 
2,655,000 
2.111,000 

The  total  investment  in  equipment — ^vessels  and 
their  outfits,  boats,  and  apparatus  of  capture — in- 
creased by  more  than  50  per  cent  from  1889  to  1908, 
being  $1,475,000  at  the  earlier  date  and  $2,245,000  at 
the  latter.  An  increase  in  each  of  the  items  helped  to 
make  up  the  increase  in  the  total,  the  value  of  the 
apparatus  of  capture  increasing  from  $424,000  to 
$576,000  and  the  value  of  vessels  and  boats  from 
$1,051,000  to  $1,669,000.  The  increase  in  these 
items,  however,  was  not  uninterrupted,  for  the  value 
of  apparatus  of  capture  fell  in  1905  below  the  values 
reported  for  1898  and  1902,  and  the  value  of  vessels 
and  boats  in  1898  was  less  than  in  1889,  and  in  1905 
less  than  in  1902.  It  may  be  noted  that  the  invest- 
ment in  1880  was  $1,814,000,  which  is  larger  than  that 
reported  at  any  subsequent  canvass  prior  to  1908. 

In  the  report  for  1880  the  values  of  the  separate 
products  as  sold  by  the  fishermen  are  not  given.  The 
following  tabular  statement,  however,  presents  sta- 
tistics showing  the  value  of  the  leading  products  for 


the  years  1908,  1902,  1898,  and  1889,  arranged  in  the 
order  of  their  value  in  1908: 


SPECIES. 

VALUE  OF  PKODUCra. 

1908 

1902 

1898 

1889 

Total 

$3,257,000 

$2,919,000 

$2,655,000 

$2,111,000 

Lobsters 

1,209,000 

439,000 

420,000 

261,000 

243,000 

10,8,000 

95,000 

7.5,000 

65,000 

44,000 

42,000 

,32,000 

31,000 

25,000 

18.000 

15,000 

24,000 

1,006,000 
377,000 
510,000 
194,000 
125,000 
145,000 
14,000 
49,000 
103,000 
45,000 
29,000 
34,000 
101,000 
13,000 
22,000 
14,000 
78.000 

993,000 
314,000 
2()3,000 
323,000 
132,000 
134,000 
1.5,000 
19,000 
139,000 
44,000 
20,000 
14,000 
98,000 
13,000 
25.000 
22,000 
85,000 

574,000 

437,000 

240,000 

201,000 

103,000 

89,000 

19,000 

32,000 

75,000 

27,000 

19,000 

6,200 

88,000 

8,700 

30,000 

36,000 

127,000 

Cod... 

Herring 

Clams 

Haddock 

Halie 

Scallops 

Pollack 

Smelt 

Swordfish 

Shad 

Cusk 

Mackerel 

Eels 

Halibut 

Another 

In  each  of  the  years  for  which  statistics  are  shown, 
lobsters,  cod, 'herring,  clams,  haddock,  and  hake  con- 
stituted the  six  principal  fishery  products  of  the  state, 
except  that  in  1898  smelt  ranked  fifth  and  haddock 
seventh.  These  six  species  contributed  78  per  cent 
of  the  aggregate  value  of  the  fishery  product  of  the 
state  in  1889,  81  per  cent  in  1898,  8.3  per  cent  in  1902, 
and  86  per  cent  in  1908. 

The  value  of  the  lobster  product  increased  about 
73  per  cent  from  1889  to  1898  and  28  per  cent  from 
1898  to  1908.  The  cod  product  decreased  in  value 
about  28  per  cent  from  1889  to  1898,  but  during  the 
following  ten  years  recovered  this  loss,  so  that  in 
1908  the  value  was  about  the  same  as  in  1889.  The 
value  of  the  herring  catch  in  1908  showed  a  decrease 
of  about  18  per  cent,  as  compared  with  1902,  but  an 
increase  of  about  60  per  cent,  as  compared  with  1898 
or  1889.  The  value  of  the  clam  product  in  1908  was 
29  per  cent  greater  than  in  1902  and  25  per  cent 
greater  than  in  1889,  but  was  less  than  in  1898.  The 
haddock  catch  fluctuated  in  value  throughout  the 
period  covered  by  the  statistics,  although  in  1908  the 
value  was  more  than  twice  as  great  as  in  1889  and 
nearly  twice  as  great  as  in  1902.  The  value  of  hake 
showed  an  increase  at  each  canvass. 

Of  the  less  important  varieties,  shad  alone  showa 
an  increase  in  value  at  each  successive  canvass.  Ale- 
wives  declined  steadily  in  value,  while  scallops  and 
lialibut  decreased  in  value  until  1902,  and  then  gained. 
Pollack  and  eels  show  increases  from  1902  to  1908; 
smftlt,  swordfish,  cusk,  and  mackerel  show  declines. 
The  most  marked  decline  is  in  the  value  of  the  mack- 
erel catch,  which  decreased  69  per  cent  between  1902 
and  1908. 

Persons  employed. — The  total  number  of  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  in  1908  was 
6,861,  distributed  as  follows: 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


139 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

Total. 

Pro- 
prie- 
tors 
and 
inde- 
pend- 
ent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ployees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

6.861 

15.004 

3 

1,854 

1619.000 

51,200 

> $618,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting    ves- 

1,378 
396 

5,083 

4 

391 

64 

4,549 

1 
2 

986 

332 

532 
4 

365,000 

150,000 

103,000 
1.100 

500 
700 

365,000 
150,000 

Shore     and     boat 
fisheries 

102,000 

1,100 

1  Exchisive  of  178  proprietors  not  fishing. 

2  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $28,000. 

Nearly  three-fourths  of  the  persons  employed  in 
fishing  industries  in  the  state  were  engaged  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  nearly  nine-tenths  of 
those  engaged  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  were 
proprietors  and  independent  fishermen.  Of  the  total 
number  engaged  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  534, 
or  1 1  per  cent,  were  employed  by  others.  The  follow- 
ing tabular  statement  shows  the  number  of  persons 
employed,  exclusive  of  shoresmen,  in  the  fisheries  of 
Maine  during  the  years  named : 


PERSONS  EMPLOYED,  EXCLUSIVE 

OF  SHORESMEN. 

1908 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1889 

1880 

Total 

6,857 

7,442 

9,207 

8,717 

8,885 

8,110 

1,378 

396 

5,083 

1,126 

330 

5.986 

2,017 
310 

6.880 

1,734 

213 

6,770 

2,515 

165 

6,205 

3,630 

Transporting  vessels    

4,480 

There  has  been  a  general,  though  to  some  extent 
interrupted,  decrease  since  1880  in  the  number  of  per- 
sons employed.  The  total  number  employed  was 
smallest  in  1908,  and  the  number  employed  in  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  was  smaller  in  that  year  than  at  any  other 
time  since  1880.  Both  for  the  fisheries  of  the  state  as 
a  whole  and  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  the  largest 
number  of  persons  employed  was  reported  in  1902. 
For  vessel  fisheries  the  largest  number  of  employees 
was  reported  in  1880  and  the  smallest  number  in 
1905,  although  the  number  in  1902  was  larger  than 
that  at  any  canvass  since  1889.  Contrary  to  the 
general  tendency  toward  a  decrease  in  the  number  of 
persons  employed  apparent  in  each  of  the  other  branches 
of  the  industry,  the  number  employed  on  transport- 
ing vessels  shows  a  small  increase  from  year  to  year. 

Equipment  and  oilier  capital. — The  following  table 
gives  statistics  of  the  equipment  and  of  other  capital 
employed : 


CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER  CAPITAL: 
1908. 

Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

Total 

12,411,000 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

1,007,000 

641,000 

356,000 

280,000 

77,000 

285,000 

219.000 

66,000 

366,000 

329,000 

287,000 

43,000 

36,000 

33,000 

3,400 

662,000 

559,000 

34,000 

64,000 

5,400 

576,000 

80,000 

496,000 

162,000 

3,000 

575 
399 
270 

6,365 
4,092 
1,631 

Fishing 

Vessels ...   . 

Outfit 

Sail.              .             .                     .          . 

129 

2,461 

Outfit 

176 
1.51 

2,273 

Rt^j^m  find  mnt/ir 

1  676 

Outfit 

Sail. 

25 

S97 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Boats 

6,969 
2,272 

250 
4,325 

122 

Steam  and  motor  . 

"■ 

Sail 

Row. 

other 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash... 

In  1908  the  total  investment  in  vessels,  boats,  and 
apparatus  of  capture  was  $2,246,000.  Of  this  amount, 
$1,007,000  represented  the  investment  in  vessels  and 
their  outfits  and  $662,000  the  investment  in  boats. 

A  prominent  feature  of  the  Maine  fisheries  is  the 
large  number  of  small  craft.  The  value  of  the  boats 
employed  in  1908  represented  27  per  cent  of  all  capital 
invested,  the  value  of  steam  and  motor  boats  alone 
forming  23  per  cent.  The  investment  in  power  craft 
of  all  kinds,  including  vessels  and  boats  with  their  out- 
fits, aggregated  $1,245,000,  or  52  per  cent  of  all  capital 
invested. 

The  statistics  for  boats  show  a  material  increase  in 
the  number  and  a  lai^e  increase  in  the  value,  as  com- 
pared with  the  returns  for  earlier  years  made  by  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries.  The  increase  in  value  seems  to 
be  due  to  the  increasing  use  of  motor  boats  of  small 
tonnage.  For  1905  the  report  of  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  showed  only  798  gasoline  boats  (including 
one  steamer),  with  a  value  of  $233,000,  while  in  1908 
the  steam  and  motor  boats  numbered  2,272,  with  a 
total  value  of  $559,000.  The  capital  invested  in  craft 
and  apparatus  of  capture  together  was  nearly  equal 
for  the  two  classes  of  fisheries,  aggregating  $1,087,000 
for  the  vessel  fisheries  and  $1,158,000  for  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries. 

Lobster  and  eel  pots,  which  constituted  the  prin- 
cipal apparatus  used  in  the  lobster  industry,  far  ex- 
ceeded in  number  any  other  kind  of  apparatus  used 
in  the  fishing  industries  of  Maine.  Pound  and  trap 
nets  were  used  principally  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  no  pound  nets  and  only  11  trap  nets  being 
used  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  Of  the  511  seines  used, 
412  were  reported  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


140 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  number 
of  various  kinds  of  apparatus  reported.  No  returns 
were  made  of  the  number  of  lines,  dredges,  tongs,  etc. 


Bag  nets 

Cunner  nets 

Dip  nets 

Firearms 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. . 

Gill  nets 

Harpoonp,  spears,  etc 
Lobster  and  eel  pots. 
Pound  and  trap  nets. 
Seines 


APPAEATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 


Total. 


186 

H 

657 

6 

4 

1,980 

S55 

176,365 

655 

511 


Used  in— 


fisheries. 


711 

475 

15,694 

11 

99 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


153 
11 

655 

6 

4 

1,269 

80 

160.771 

644 

412 


Products,  ly  species. — The  fisheries  of  the  state  of 
Maine  yielded,  in  1908, 173,843,000  pounds  of  products, 
with  a  value  of  $3,257,000.  Along  the  coast  sunken 
ledges  and  rocks,  the  habitat  of  various  marine  ani- 
mals that  serve  as  food  for  many  of  the  most  important 
food  fishes,  are  the  resort  of  the  cod,  haddock,  hake 
and  other  species  known  as  "ground  fish."  The 
rocky  character  of  the  coast  makes  it  especially  suitable 
for  the  growth  of  lobsters,  and  the  breeding  of  them 
is  carried  on  in  practically  every  locality  along  the 
coast  and  has  become  by  far  the  most  important 
branch  of  the  fishing  industry  of  the  state.  In  1908 
the  lobster  product  contributed  39  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  all  fishery  products  of  the  state.  In  point 
of  value  the  cod  product  ranked  next,  but  this  fur- 
nished only  13  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery 
products,  or  little  more  than  one-third  as  much  as  the 
lobster  product.  Herring  ranked  third  in  value,  the 
large  number  of  these  fish  caught  being  utilized  mainly 
in  sardine  canneries  and  smokehouses.  The  soft- 
clam  industry  is  also  important  and  its  products  ranked 
fourth  in  value  among  those  of  the  fisheries  of  the 
state;  but  oysters  thus  far  have  not  been  successfully 
propagated  in  the  waters  of  Maine.  The  other  impor- 
tant classes  of  product,  in  order  of  value  reported, 
were  haddock,  hake,  scallop,  pollack,  and  smelt.  The 
products  distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of 
capture  are  shown  in  Table  1,  on  page  143. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  distribution  of 
the  value  of  products  between  the  vessel  fisheries  and 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  is  given  in  the  next  tab- 
ular statement. 

The  products  in  detail,  by  species  and  apparatus  of 
capture,  are  presented  for  the  vessel  fisheries  in  Table 
3,  on  page  145,  and  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in 
Table  2,  on  page  144. 

The  vessel  fisheries,  while  of  considerable  impor- 
tance, are  much  less  extensive  than  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  In  1908  the  catch  reported  for  the  former 
was  52,724,000  pounds,  valued  at  $898,000,  or  about 
30  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  28  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  for  the  state.     The  shore  and  boat  fisheries 


reported  a  catch  of  121,119,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$2,359,000,  or  about  70  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity 
and  72  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  state. 

In  the  vessel  fisheries  the  combined  catch  of  cod, 
herring,  haddock,  hake,  swordfish,  and  lobsters  was 
valued  at  $742,000,  or  83  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
the  products  of  those  fisheries.  In  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  the  value  of  the  lobster  catch  represented  48 
per  cent  of  the  total  value.  The  value  of  the  fish 
proper  constituted  80  per  cent  of  the  total  value  in  the 
case  of  vessel  fisheries  and  39  per  cent  in  the  case  of 
shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


Total... 

Fish 

Cod 

Herring.. 

Haddock. 

Hake 

Pollack.. 

Smelt 

Swordfish 

Shad 

Cusk 

Mackerel . 

Eels 

Alewives  . 

Halibut.. 

All  other . 

Lobster 

Clams 

Scallops 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$3,257,000 


1,631,000 

439,000 

420,000 

243.000 

168,000 

75,000 

65,000 

44,000 

42.000 

32,000 

31,000 

25,000 

18,000 

15,000 

14,000 

1,269,000 

251,000 

95,000 

9,600 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$898,000 


717,000 

238,000 

95,000 

133,000 

100,000 

36,000 

2,400 

43,000 

10,000 

24,000 

19.000 

3,700 

1,500 

11,000 

700 

134,000 

4,300 

38,000 

5,100 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


12,359,000 


914,000 

201,000 

325,000 

111,000 

68,000 

39,000 

63,000 

600 

32,000 

8,000 

12,000 

21,000 

16,000 

3,700 

13,000 

1,136,000 

247,000 

58,000 

4,500 


Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  distribution  of  the  value 
of  the  fishery  products  taken  by  each  Idnd  of  appa- 
ratus for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  each  class  of 
fisheries: 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Lobster  and  eel  pots 

Lines 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 
Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  hoes,  etc. . 

Seines , 

Gill  nets,  drift  nets,  etc 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Bag  nets 

Dip  nets 

All  other 


v.iLUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


83,257,000 


1,290,000 
953,000 
357,000 
347,000 
171,000 
56,000 
48,000 
22,000 
12,000 
2,200 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$898,000 


137,000 

529,000 

11,000 

42,000 

108,000 

27,000 

43,000 

600 

300 

400 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$2,359,000 


,153,000 

424,000 

346,000 

305,000 

63,000 

29.000 

6,300 

21,000 

12,000 

1,800 


In  consequence  of  the  fact  that  the  lobster  is  the 
most  important  product  of  the  fisheries  of  Maine,  the 
products  caught  by  means  of  eel  and  lobster  pots 
show  the  largest  value.  Lines  ranked  second  in 
value  of  the  catch.  They  are  used  very  generally 
along  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  nearly  all  the  important 
species  of  fish,  except  herring,  shad,  and  such  large 
fish  as  sturgeon  and  swordfish,  are  caught  by  this 
apparatus. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs  followed  lines  in 
importance   as   apparatus  of  capture.     All   of   these 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


141 


were  used  principally  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
only  about  3  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  product 
taken  by  them  in  1908  coming  from  vessel  fisheries. 
Herring  contributed  more  than  four-fifths  of  the  value 
of  the  catch  by  these  forms  of  apparatus. 

Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  hoes,  and  similar  apparatus 
ranked  fourth  in  importance  as  measured  by  the  value 
of  the  product  taken;  although  used  to  some  extent  in 
vessel  fisheries,  they  were  employed  chiefly  in  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  for  taking  clams.  All  of  the  scallops 
taken  in  the  state,  valued  at  $95,000,  and  a  few 
oysters  were  also  secured  by  apparatus  of  this  kind. 

Seines  were  used  extensively  in  the  vessel  fisheries, 
which  reported  nearly  two-thirds  of  the  total  value 
of  the  catch  made  by  this  apparatus.  The  principal 
species  caught  by  seines  were  herring,  pollack,  smelt, 
mackerel,  and  shad. 

Gill  nets  and  drift  nets  were  used  to  nearly  the 
same  extent  in  vessel  fisheries  and  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  total  catch  taken  by  these  nets  weighed 
1,404,000  pounds  and  was  valued  at  $56,000.  It 
included  mackerel,  herring,  shad,  cod,  and  smelt,  with 
a  combined  value  of  $52,000,  and  six  other  species 
aggregating  in  value  $3,600. 

The  principal  species  taken  with  harpoons  and  spears 
was  the  swordfish.  By  these  implements  were  also 
captured  seals,  from  which  came  skins  and  oil;  por- 
poises, taken  for  their  oil;  and  eels. 

Lobster. — Measured  by  value  of  products  lobster 
were  the  most  important  fishery  product  of  the  state  in 
1908,  and,  although  the  weight  of  the  total  catch  was 
less  than  in  1902,  by  2,234,000  pounds,  or  18  per  cent, 
its  value  was  greater  by  $203,000,  or  16  per  cent.  It  is 
interesting  to  note  that  the  total  catch  in  1880  was 
14,234,000  pounds — a  much  larger  quantity  than  in 
1908 — but  its  value  to  the  fishermen  was  only  $269,000. 
Lobsters  are  taken  principally  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  In  1908  this  class  of  fisheries  reported 
8,898,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,136,000,  whereas  only 
1,031,000  pounds,  with  a  value  of  $134,000,  were  taken 
in  the  vessel  fisheries. 

Cod. — The  catch  of  cod  ranked  next  to  the  lobster 
product  in  value  and  was  the  largest  in  quantity 
reported  for  any  of  the  so-called  "ground  fish"  (cod, 
haddock,  hake,  halibut,  pollack,  and  cusk).  In  all, 
20,013,000  pounds  of  cod  were  caught,  with  a  value  of 
$439,000,  or  13  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery 
products  of  the  state.  The  catch  in  1908  represents 
an  increase  of  about  15  per  cent  in  weight  and  nearly 
17  per  cent  in  value  over  the  catch  in  1902,  which 
amounted  to  17,390,000  pounds,  valued  at  $377,000. 
The  product  of  1908  was  almost  equally  divided  be- 
tween the  vessel  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  the 
quantity  taken  in  the  former  being  9,951,000  pounds 
and  that  taken  in  the  latter  10,063,000  pounds,  or 
only  1  per  cent  more.  Yet  the  value  of  the  lesser 
catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries,  $238,000,  was  15  per  cent 
greater  than  the  value  of  the  catch  from  the  shore 


and  boat  fisheries,  which  was  $201,000.  It  is  of 
interest  to  note  in  this  connection  that  in  1302  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries  reported  a  large  difference  in  the 
amount  of  cod  taken  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries  as 
compared  with  vessel  fisheries,  the  product  of  the 
latter  being  12,621,000  pounds,  valued  at  $286,000, 
and  that  of  the  former  only  4,769,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $91,000.  Nearly  87  per  cent  of  the  catch  was  sold 
fresh  and  the  remainder  was  salted.  Practically 
the  entire  product  was  taken  by  hand  and  trawl 
lines. 

Herring. — Herring  fisliing  is  important  in  the  state 
of  Maine,  and  this  fish  in  1908  ranked  first  among  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state  in  quantity  and  third  in 
value.  The  value  of  the  product  represented  13  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  aggregate  product  for  the 
state.  Since  1902  there  has  been  a  decrease  of 
69,419,000  pounds,  or  nearly  43  per  cent,  in  the  total 
catch,  and  of  $90,000,  or  nearly  18  per  cent,  in  its 
value.  The  herring  fishery  is  principally  a  shore 
fishery;  in  1908,  75,638,000  pounds  of  herring  were 
taken  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  with  a  value  of 
$325,000,  or  over  77  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the 
herring  taken  in  Maine.  Ninety-six  per  cent  of  the 
catch  was  sold  fresh  and  the  remainder  salted  or 
smoked.  The  greater  part  of  the  total  quantity — 
66,826,000  pounds,  valued  at  $287,000,  or  over  68  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  herring — was  taken  in  pound 
nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs.  About  27  per  cent  of  the 
value  represents  the  value  of  the  catch  made  with 
seines.  Herring,  as  already  stated,  are  utilized 
mainly  in  sardine  canneries  and  smokehouses,  but  they 
are  also  to  some  extent  sold  salted  and  are  used  for 
bait  in  trawl  and  hand-line  fishing. 

Clams. — For  the  clam  product  a  considerable  in- 
crease in  value  is  shown  in  the  last  few  years,  and  in 
1908  it  stood  in  this  respect  next  to  herring.  In  this 
report  both  the  fresh  clams  sold  for  food  and  for 
canning  and  the  salted  clams  sold  for  bait  are  included 
under  the  term  "soft  clams."  The  total  yield  of 
clams  in  1908  was  5,061,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$251,000;  in  1905,  3,729,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$135,000;  and  in  1902,  5,547,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$194,000.  There  was  a  decline  in  the  product  from 
1902  to  1905,  amounting  to  33  per  cent  in  quantity  and 
nearly  31  per  cent  in  value,  but  an  increase  from  1905 
to  1908  made  the  total  quantity  in  1908  less  than  9 
per  cent  smaller  than  in  1902  and  the  total  value  29 
per  cent  more.  Clams  ranked  third  in  value  among 
the  products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  less  than 
2  per  cent  of  the  clam  product  being  taken  in  the  vessel 
fisheries. 

Haddock. — In  value  of  the  catch  the  haddock  ranked 
next  to  the  cod  among  the  "ground  fish,"  and  fifth 
among  all  species  of  the  state.  The  catch  was  sHghtly 
larger  in  the  vessel  fisheries  than  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  and  proportionately  more  valuable.  It  was 
practically  all  sold  fresh.     Since  1902  there  has  been 


142 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


an  increase  of  50  per  cent  in  the  quantity  of  the  catch 
of  this  fish  together  with  an  increase  of  nearly  95  per 
cent  in  the  value.  Lines  Avere  the  principal  kind  of 
apparatus  used  in  the  capture  of  haddock. 

Hake. — ^The  hake  was  an  important  species  of 
"ground  fish"  taken  in  Maine,  and  in  quantity  re- 
ported ranked  next  to  the  cod  in  1908  and  third  among 
all  the  species  taken  in  the  state.  The  most  prolific 
hake  fishing  grounds  in  the  United  States  are  off  the 
coast  of  Maine,  and  more  than  50  per  cent  of  the  hake 
caught  in  the  United  States  comes  from  there.  The 
fishermen  usually  dress  these  fish  before  seUing  them. 
Formerly  the  sounds  were  very  valuable  for  the  manu- 
facture of  glue,  and  although  their  value  for  this 
purpose  has  decreased,  the  custom  of  dressing  the  hake, 
begun  before  the  Civil  War,  has  continued.  The 
value  of  the  hake  product  in  1908  formed  5  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  all  fishery  products  of  Maine.  Compared 
with  the  1902  product  that  of  1908  represented  a  de- 
crease of  7  per  cent  in  quantity  but  an  increase  of 
nearly  16  per  cent  in  value.  The  hake  was  taken  in 
the  vessel  fisheries  to  a  greater  extent  than  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  the  total  quantity  caught  by  ves- 
sels in  1908  constituting  about  60  per  cent  of  all  hake 
caught  in  the  state.  Lines  were  the  leading  apparatus 
of  capture  employed. 

Scallops. — ^Although  scallops  have  been  taken  in  the 
other  New  England  states  for  a  number  of  years,  the 
industry  is  comparatively  new  in  Maine.  The  water 
in  which  they  are  taken  is  of  great  depth,  and  for  this 
reason  scallop  fishing  was  not  much  carried  on  in  this 
state.  During  the  past  few  years,  however,  the 
advent  of  motor  boats  for  dragging  and  of  the  motor 
engines  and  drum  for  hoisting  the  dredge  has  over- 
come the  difficulties  due  to  the  deep  water  and  led  to 
a  marked  increase  in  product.  In  1908  scallops  stood 
seventh  in  value  among  the  species  taken  in  the  state. 
Exclusive  of  18,000  pounds  of  scallop  rims,  with  a 
value  of  $100,  the  total  product  in  1908  was  1,239,000 
pounds,  with  a  value  of  $95,000.  In  1905  the  total 
quantity  was  416,000  pounds,  valued  at  $52,000,  and 
in   1902,   115,000  pounds,   valued  at   $14,000.     The 


product  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  amounted  to 
766,000  pounds,  valued  at  $58,000.  The  entire  catch 
was  made  by  dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  hoes,  and  similar 
apparatus. 

PoUack. — The  value  of  the  catch  of  pollack  increased 
from  $49,000  m  1902  to  $75,000  in  1908,  or  more  than 
53  per  cent.  The  value  of  the  product  in  1908 
amounted  to  four  times  the  value  of  that  of  1898. 
This  fish  is  reported  in  nearly  equal  quantities  by  the 
vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  is 
taken  principally  by  means  of  lines  and  seines. 

Smelt. — Although  the  catch  of  smelt  represented 
but  2  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  fishery  products  of 
the  state  in  1908,  smelt  fishing  is  regarded  as  important 
because  it  furnishes  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
men  in  the  fall  and  winter  months.  In  the  fall  prin- 
cipally seines  are  used  in  taking  the  catch,  but  in  the 
winter  the  fish  are  taken  through  the  ice  with  lines 
and  the  fishing  grounds  are  usually  some  distance  up 
the  rivers.  Since  1902  there  has  been  a  decrease  of  42 
per  cent  in  the  quantity  of  the  catch  and  37  per  cent 
in  its  value.  There  has  been  a  slight  increase  since 
1905,  however,  in  both  quantity  and  value.  Over 
96  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch  was  reported  by 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Other  apparatus  besides 
seines  and  lines  used  in  capturing  this  fish  are  bag  nets, 
pound  nets,  trap  nets,  weirs,  and  to  a  less  extent,  dip 
nets,  gill  nets,  and  drift  nets.  The  figures  given  for 
smelt  in  the  columns  headed  '  'All  other  apparatus"  in 
Table  1,  on  page  143,  represent  the  catch  in  bag  nets. 

Mackerel. — The  mackerel  was  formerly  very  abun- 
dant in  the  waters  of  Maine,  but  the  catch  for  1908 
was  only  380,000  pounds.  The  value  of  the  catch  was 
$31,000,  a  decrease  of  69  per  cent  since  1902,  when  it 
was  $101,000. 

Salmon. — Salmon  fishing  also  has  been  decreasing 
in  importance  yearly,  the  catch  in  1908  being  72  per 
cent  less  in  value  than  that  in  1902.  The  salmon  is  a 
migratory  fish  and  formerly  came  to  the  Maine  waters 
to  spawn,  but  it  is  asserted  that,  owing  to  the  pollution 
of  the  waters,  it  is  now  impossible  for  the  fish  to  reach 
the  spawning  beds  in  the  fresh  water. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— MAINE— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


143 


TOTAL. 

PKODVCT  CAUGHT  BT— 

aesvas. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets,  drift 
nets,  etc. 

Dip  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.! 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

173,843,000 

$3,257,000 

55,287,000 

?9S3,000 

69,621,000 

$357,000 

27,877,000 

S171.000 

1,404,000 

$56,000 

2,044,000 

$12,000 

17,610,000 

$1,709,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

2,085,000 

t;,400 

13,000 

20,013.000 

93,000 

2,078,000 

4!I.S,000 

31,000 

10.613,000 

17.398,000 

200,000 

92,985,000 

380,000 

2,700 

8,941,000 

19,000 

770,000 

25,000 

654,000 

2,I(» 

8,200 

100 

68,000 
513,000 
117,000 

14,000 

52,000 

23,000 

9,929,000 

1,400 

*  5,061,000 

'1,000 

•1.257,000 
6,100 

'83,000 
88,000 
»4,000 

'»  1,000 

18.000 

300 

100 

439,000 

1,(500 

32.000 

25.000 

600 

243.000 

168,000 

15.000 

420.000 

31,000 

300 

75,000 

3,700 

42,000 

100 

05,000 

400 

1,000 

100 

900 

44,000 

4,600 

300 

500 

1,000 

1,269,000 

600 

251,000 

200 
96,000 

m 

3,600 
800 
400 

2,200 

1,290.000 
5.900 

11,000 
300 

157,000 

2,800 

038,000 

4,200 

Butterfisti 

500 

(') 

Catflsli 

13,000 
19,631,000 

100 
430,000 

Cod 

103,000 

2,200 

278,000 

6,900 

Gunner 

93,000 

1,600 

Cuslc 

2,078,000 

1,200 

9,600 

10,454,000 

17,387,000 

200,000 

32,000 

100 

100 

242,000 

168,000 

Ifi.OOO 

Eels 

44,000 

2,400 

9,600 

600 

443,000 
18,000 

22,000 
400 

4,000 

100 

Haddock 

23,000 
11,000 

500 
100 

30,000 

100 

Hake 

Halibut 

Herring 

66,820,000 
63,000 

287,000 
4,800 

24,019,000 
125,000 

114,000 
10,000 

723,000 
193,000 

14,000 
16,000 

1,367,000 

4,700 

60,000 

200 

Mackerel 

Pickerel 

2,700 

5,229,000 
2,200 

300 

51,000 
200 

Pollack 

708,000 

0,000 

315,000 

25,000 

113,000 
1.4IM 
4.500 

56,000 

6,600 

1,600 

26,000 

100 

14,000 
200 
500 

(=) 

90O 

2,992,000 

19,000 

11,000 

9,500 
114,000 

100 
1,700 
9,900 

1,000 
600 

«-^ 

700 

100 

Shad 

340,000 

7,600 

Silver  hake 

Smelt 

89,000 

9,700 

222,000 

17,000 

34,000 

700 

3,700 

100 

4,700 
200 
.500 
100 

29,000 

2,300 

167,000 

17,000 

Sturgeon 

Caviar 

1,600 

613,000 

59,000 

44,000 

Swordfish 

19,000 
14,000 

52,000 
23,000 

500 
300 

500 
1,000 

20.000 
200 

200 

18.000 

200 

3,600 

All  other 

: 

Livers 

Lobster 

9,929,000 

1,400 

<  5,061,000 

•1,000 
•1,267,000 

1,269,000 
600 

Turtles 

Clams,  soft 

251,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

■ 

200 

.Scallops   and    scallop 
rims 

96,000 

Squid 

6,100 

m 

Oil,  flsh 

83,000 

3,000 

Oil,  porpoise 

«  8,000 
•4,000 
l»  1,600 

800 

Oil,  seal 

400 

(') 

m 

2,200 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Lobster  and  eel  pots,  10,361,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,290,000;  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  6,310,000  pounds,  valued  at  $347,000; 
harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  539,000  pounds,  valued  at  $48,000;  bag  nets,  286,000  pounds,  valued  at  $22,000;  cunner  nets  and  traps,  93,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,600;  flounder  traps, 
10,000  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400. 

»  Less  than  $100.  '  200  bushels.  «  1.100  gallons. 

'  IjCss  than  100  pounds.  •  155.000  gallons.  '  500  gallons. 

<  506,000  bushels.  '  11,000  gallons.  m  600  skins. 


144 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— MAINE— PRODUCTS  OP  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT   BY— 

SPEaES. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets 
nets, 

,  drift 
;tc. 

Dip  nets. 

All  other  apparatus^* 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

121,119,000 

$2,359,000 

25,401,000 

5424,000 

68,200,000 

$340,000 

9,562,000 

$63,000 

538,000 

$29,000 

1,956,000 

$12,000 

15,403,000 

$1,486,000 

Fish: 

1,751,000 

112,000 

192,000 

6,900 

5,800 

9,896,000 

167,000 

90,000 

520,000 

4,100 

414,000 

31,000 

4,753,000 

48,000 

6,947,000 

245,000 

47,000 

74,552,000 

851,000 

234,000 

155,000 

2,200 

2,700 

3,770,000 

448,000 

19,000 
370,000 

17,000 

624,000 

2,100 

8,200 

100 

57,000 

8,000 

100,000 

800 

800 

1,100 

2,800 

8,898,000 

1,400 

<  4,961,000 

6  1,000 

•784,000 

5,300 
'8,000 
8  4,000 
»1,600 

11,000 

2,000 

3,400 

300 

100 

196,000 

5,500 

1,600 

7,900 

100 

21,000 

600 

110,000 

1,000 

64,000 

3,500 

3,700 

316,000 

6,200 

2,900 

12,000 
200 
300 

33,000 
6,000 

3,700 
32,000 

100 
63,000 

400 

1,000 
100 
900 
600 

4,100 
100 

^100 

100 

1,136,000 

600 

247,000 

200 

58,000 

^"'800 

400 

2,200 

1,052,000 

64,000 

174,000 

5,400 

6,600 

1,500 

2,700 

300 

127,000 

1,300 

572,000 
48,000 
18,000 

2,900 
600 
700 

600 

m 

5,800 

9,588,000 
167,000 

100 

188,000 
5,500 

Cod,  fresh 

Cod,  salted 

103,000 

2,200 

204,000 

5,200 

90,000 

1,600 

520,000 
4,100 

1,200 

9,600 

4,694,000 

48,000 

6,937,000 

245,000 

47,000 

7,900 
100 

100 
100 

108,000 

1,000 

64,000 

3,500 

3,700 

Eels 

44,000 

2,400 

9,600 



600 

359,000 
18,000 

18,000 

4,000 

100 

400 

Haddock,  fresh... 

23,000 

500 

36,000 

1,000 

Hake,  fresh 

11,000 

100 

Halibut 

Herring,  fresh 

Herring,  salted... 
Herring,  smoked  . 

65,217,000 

40,000 

234,000 

61,000 

276,000 

300 

2,900 

4,700 

7,944,000 
811,000 

34,000 
5,900 

63,000 

400 

i, 278, 666 

4,300 

60,000 

200 

33,000 
2,200 

2,600 
200 

61,000 

5,000 

2,700 

2,873,000 

216,000 

2,200 

300 

27,000 

3,300 

200 

Pollack,  fresh 

Pollack,  salted 

070,000 
33,000 

6,000 

246,000 

17,000 

113,000 

1,400 

4,500 
55,000 

4,700 
900 

1,500 

22,000 

100 

14,000 

200 

500 

'^^900 

215,000 
200,000 

1,400 
1,800 

11,000 

100 

1,000 

'(«)' 

9,500 
114,000 

1,700 
9,900 

700 

100 

600 

200 

10,000 

200 

Smelt          

89,000 

9,700 

198,000 

15,000 

34,000 
700 

3,700 
100 

4,700 
200 

500 
100 

29,000 

2,300 

162,000 

17,000 

Striped  bass 

Caviar 

1,500 
8,000 
63,000 

(*) 

600 

8,000 
600 

800 
1,100 
2,800 

200 

m 

«100 
100 

20,000 
200 

200 

18,000 

200 

3,500 

All  other 

8,898,000 
1,400 

< 4,961,000 

s  1,000 

8  784,000 

1,136,000 

600 

Clam*?  soft 

247,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

public  areas 

Scallops  and  scallop 

200 

58,000 

Squid 

5,300 

(») 

'8,000 
8  4,000 
»1,600 

800 

Oil  seal 

400 

W 

(•) 

2,200 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Lobster  and  eel  pots,  9,246,000 
nets,  275,000  pounds,  valued  at  $21,000;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  35,000  pounds,  V8 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,600. 

>  Less  than  $100.  <  496,000  bushels. 

<  Less  than  100  pounds.  '  200  bushels. 


founds,  valued  at  $1,153,000;  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  5,746,000  pounds,  valued  at  $305,000;  ba 
ued  at  $5,300;  flounder  traps,  10,000  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  91,00 


«  98,000  gallons. 
'  1,100  gaUons. 


8  500  gallons. 
•  600  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Tadlb  3.— MAINE— products  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


145 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

GIU  nets,  drift 
nets,  etc. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

52,724,000 

$898,000 

29,826,000 

$529,000 

18,315,000 

$108,000 

866,000 

$27,000 

1,422,000 

$11,000 

2,295,000 

$223,000 

Fish: 

30,000 

7,000 

7,489,000 

2,461,000 

1,519,000 

35,000 

84,000 

5,691,000 

21,000 

10,156,000 

50,000 

153,000 

14,635,000 

2,711,000 

224,000 

4,707,000 

16,000 

141,000 

258,000 

29,000 

505,000 

17,000 

26,000 

51,000 

19,000 

1, 031, 000 

'100,000 

< 473, 000 

800 

683,000 

1,500 

100 

155,000 

83,000 

23,000 

800 

3,700 

132,000 

300 

99,000 

700 

11,000 
73,000 
22,000 
19,000 
36,000 
300 

3,800 

6,500 

2,400 

43,000 

500 

300 

500 

800 

134,000 

4,300 

38,000 

30,000 

1,500 

7,000 

7,415,000 

2,461,000 

1,519,000 

35,000 

100 
153,000 
83,000 
23,000 

800 

74,000 

1,700 

Eels 

84,000 

3,700 

5,691,000 

21,000 

10,156,000 

50,000 

153,000 

132,000 

300 

99,000 

700 

11,000 

Hake  fresh 

Hake,  salted 

13,040,000 

2,224,000 

90,000 

2,577,000 

59,000 
15,000 
7,200 
16,000 

212,000 
448,000 
132,000 

6,400 
7.400 
11,000 

1,335,000 

7,700 

48,666 
40,000 

200 

200 

Mackerel,  fresh 

1,600 
5,600 

100 
100 

2,125,000 
16,000 

20,000 
300 

Pollack,  salted 

72,000 
258,000 
24,000 

1,000 
6,500 
2,000 

99,000 

2,800 

Shad  salted 

5,200 

505,000 

8,006 

3,000 

400 

Swordfish 

43,000 

Tomcod 

11.000 
13,000 

51,000 
19,000 

300 
200 

500 
800 

200 

All  other 

9,300 

100 

(') 

Livers 

Lobster               .   . 

1,031,000 
"100,000 
•473,000 

134,000 

4,300 

Scallops                                                   . 

38,000 

800 

(») 

Oil,  fish 

'83,000 

3,600 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Lobster  and  eel  pots,  1,1 15,000  pounds, 
tongs,  etc.,  663,000  pounds,  valued  at  $42,000;  bag  nets,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $600: 
at  $400. 

>  Less  than  $100.  '  10,000  gallons. 

MARTLAND. 

In  respect  to  fisheries  Maryland  stands  high  among 
the  states,  ranking  fifth  in  1908,  with  a  product  valued 
at  $3,306,000.  Likewise  the  fisheries  of  Maryland 
rank  high  among  the  industries  of  the  state.  Chesa- 
peake Bay  and  its  tributary  streams,  the  Potomac, 
Susquehanna,  Patuxent,  Choptank,  Nanticoke,  and 
lesser  rivers,  form  the  greatest  oyster  area  in  the  world. 
In  1908  the  value  of  the  oyster  product  constituted 
two-thirds  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  product  of 
the  state. 

The  fishing  grounds  of  Maryland  are  naturally 
divided  into  two  districts  comprising  those  of  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  and  those  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its 
tributary  waters.  As  the  water  front  of  the  state  on 
Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributaries  is  much  more 
extensive  than  the  Atlantic  water  front,  the  Chesa- 
peake Bay  fisheries  are  much  more  important  than 
those  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  which  in  1908  contributed 
only  4  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products 
for  the  state. 

The  following  statement  gives  a  general  summary 
of  the  statistics  of  the  state's  fisheries  for  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 18, 392 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $1,  644, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 369,000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 86, 000 

Value  of  products 3, 306, 000 

76786°— 11 10 


:,  valued  at  $137,000;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  505,000  pounds,  valued  at  $43,000;  dredges, 
dip  nets,  88,000  pounds,  valued  at  $300;  and  minor  apparatus,  13,000  pounds,  valued 

<  59,000  gallons.  '  11,000  gallons. 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — A  comparison 
of  the  general  statistics  for  different  years  shows  con- 
siderable fluctuations.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  number  of  persons  employed,  exclusive 
of  shoresmen,  the  capital  invested,  and  the  products, 
as  shown  by  the  census  returns  for  1880  and  1908  and 
the  reports  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  1891,  1897, 
and  1904: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VAltJE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

FBODUCTS. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 
and  boats, 
including 

outfit. 

capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1904 

1897 

1891 

1880 

18,316 
20,054 
26,627 
28,209 
16,873 

$2,013,000 
1,870,000 
2,303,000 
2,913,000 
2,234,000 

$1,644,000 
1,534,000 
1,907,000 
2,418,000 
1,930,000 

$369,000 
336,000 
396,000 
496,000 
297,000 

113,796,000 
81,129,000 
88,588,000 

141,178,000 
95,713,000 

$3,306,000 
3,337,000 
3,617,000 
6,461,000 
5,222,000 

Persons  employed. — The  statistics  of  the  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  in  1908  are  shown 
in  the  next  tabular  statement. 

All  the  shoresmen  were  connected  with  shore  and 
boat  fisheries.  In  this  class  of  fisheries  13,326  persons 
were  employed,  as  compared  with  only  4,046  persons 
in  vessel  fisheries  and  1,020  on  transporting  vessels. 
Wage-earners  outnumbered  proprietors  and  independ- 
ent fishermen  by  only  a  small  percentage.  The  9,948 
salaried  employees  and  wage-earners  were  paid  in  cash 
and  provisions  $1,036,000,  an  amount  equal  to  31  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  fishery  products. 


146 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

Total. 

Proprietors 

and  in- 
dependent 
fishermen. 

Salaried 
employees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total 

18,392 

'8,444 

6 

9,942 

$1,036,000 

$1,000 

•11,035,008 

Vessel  fisheries 

4,046 

1,020 

13,250 

76 

607 

305 

7,532 

3,439 

715 

5,712 

76 

374,000 

101,000 

557,000 

6,200 

374,000 

101,000 

556,000 

6,200 

Transporting  vessels 

Shnrp  ftnrt  hnat.  fishpries 

0 

1,000 

Shoresmen 

Chesapeake  Bay  district. ..... 

17,806 

8,154 

6 

9,646 

991,000 

1,000 

990,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

4,046 

975 

12,709 

76 

686 

607 

276 

7,271 

3,439 

699 

6,432 

76 

296 

374,000 

99,000 

513,000 

5,200 

46,000 

374,000 

99,000 

512,000 

5,200 

45,000 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

6 

1,000 

Shoresmen 

Atlantic  Ocean  district 

290 

45 
541 

29 
261 

16 
280 

1,200 
44,000 

1,200 
44,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

'  Exclusive  of  367  proprietors  not  fishing. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tables 
give  the  value  of  equipment  and  capital  in  1908  as  dis- 
tributed among  vessels,  boats,  apparatus  of  capture, 
shore  and  accessory  property,  and  cash,  for  the  state 
as  a  whole  and  for  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  Chesapeake 
Bay  districts  separately : 


'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $159,000. 


valtte  of  equipment  and  othek 
capital:  1908. 

CLASS  or  raVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Chesa- 
peake Bay 

district. 

Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 

Totftl 

$2,099,000 

$2,019,000 

$80,000 

1,001,000 

693,000 

65,000 

60,000 

15,000 

528,000 

406,000 

122,000 

408,000 

24,000 

22,000 

2,100 

383,000 

343,000 

40,000 

644,000 

220,000 

384,000 

31,000 

9,300 

369,000 

51,000 

318,000 

80,000 

6,500 

986,000 

593,000 

65,000 

50,000 

15,000 

628,000 

406,000 

122,000 

392,000 

23,000 

21,000 

2,000 

369,000 

330,000 

39,000 

615,000 

200,000 

378,000 

29,000 

8,000 

335,000 

51,000 

284,000 

77,000 

6,600 

15,000 

Fishing....                     .  . 

Vessels.. 

Outfit 

Sail 

'                  Outfit 

Transporting 

15,000 
1  100 

Sti»aTn  ftnd  mnt/^r 

1,000 
100 

Outfit. 

Sail 

14  000 

13,000 
1  000 

Outfit 

Boats 

28,000 

20,000 

5,200 

1,300 

1,300 

34  000 

Pt^V^TTi  ftnri  mnt^r.. 

Sail 

Row.... 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture.. 

Vessel  fisheries 

PlinrA  and  hf>at  fi<5hp.r|p.t: 

34,000 
2,400 

Cadi    . 

The  statistics  concerning  the  number  and  tonnage 
of  vessels  and  the  number  of  boats  are  shown  in  the 
first  tabular  statement  following. 

Of  the  total  capital  invested,  $1,644,000,  or  78  per 
cent,  represented  the  value  of  vessels  and  boats,  includ- 
ing outfit.  Of  the  remainder,  the  investment  in  ap- 
paratus of  capture  was  the  largest  item,  having  a 
value  of  $369,000,  and  this  was  followed  by  shore  and 
accessory  property,  with  a  value  of  $80,000.  The  dis- 
tribution of  the  apparatus  of  capture  by  districts  and 
by  class  of  fisheries  is  shown  in  the  second  tabular  state- 
ment following. 


CLASS  or  CEATT. 


Vessels,  number 

Fishing,  numt)er 

Steam  and  motor — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Transporting,  number  . 
Steam  and  motor — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Boats,  number 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

other 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 


Total. 


1,107 
757 

21 
310 

736 

7,061 

350 

17 
134 

333 
7,813 
8,493 

862 
5.238 
2, 1.35 

268 


Chesa- 

pealce  Bay 

district. 


1,091 

757 

21 
310 

736 

7,061 

334 

16 
127 

318 
7,644 
8,142 

783 
5,164 
2,072 

123 


Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 


1« 


16 

1 

7 

15 
169 
351 
69 
74 
63 
145 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 

KIND. 

Total. 

Distributed  by 
districts. 

Distributed  by  class 
of  fisheries. 

Chesa- 
peake 
Bay 
district. 

Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

Bow  nets          

59 

1,524 

6,079 

4,818 

4,664 

1,364 

185 

12 

29,003 

59 

1,494 

5,079 

4,149 

4,214 

1.347 

150 

12 

29,003 

59 

30 

1,524 
4,699 
4,674 
3,229 
1,275 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

380 

144 

1,435 

89 

12 

2 

Gill  nets 

Eel  pots 

669 

460 

17 

36 

Seines - 

173 
10 

29,003 

Products,  hy  species. — The  products  are  given,  by 
species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  Table  1  on 
page  149.  Oysters  ranked  first  both  in  quantity  and 
in  value.  On  the  basis  of  quantity  the  species  next 
in  order  were  alewives,  or  river  herring,  with  a  product 
of  nearly  29,000,000  pounds;  crabs,  with  over 
20,000,000  pounds;  menhaden,  with  over  12,000,000 
pounds;  and  shad,  with  nearly  4,000,000  pounds.  On 
the  basis  of  value  the  leading  species  after  oysters 
were  crabs,  shad,  and  alewives,  in  the  order  named. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


147 


The  heavy  catch  of  menhaden  stood  relatively  low  ui 
value,  and  was  exceeded  in  this  respect  by  striped 
bass,  squeteague,  and  muskrat  skins. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — Table  2,  on  page  150, 
gives  the  products  of  the  Maryland  fisheries  in  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  district  by  species  and  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  and  Table  3,  on  page  1.51,  gives  similar 
statistics  for  the  Maryland  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean,  all  of  wliich  were  of  the  shore  and  boat  class. 
For  the  Chesapeake  Bay  district  the  leading  products, 
in  the  order  of  value,  were  the  same  as  those  already 
noted  for  the  state,  namely,  oysters,  crabs,  shad,  and 
alewives;  while  for  the  Atlantic  Ocean  fisheries  the 
leading  products  with  respect  to  value  were  squeteague, 
oysters,  sturgeon  (including  caviar),  and  yellow  perch, 
in  the  order  named. 


Total 

Fish 

Shad 

Alewives,  or  river  her- 
ring   

Striped  bass 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout. 

Perch,  white 

Menhaden 

Perch,  yellow 

Catfish 

Sturgeon,  caviar,  and 
sturgeon  eggs 

Eels 

All  other 

Oysters 

Marliet 

Seed 

Crabs 

Clams 

Skins,  muskrat  and  otter  - 
All  others 


13,306,000 


VALDE  OF  PKODDCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


684,000 
247,000 

157,000 
65,000 
47,000 
30,000 
30,000 
22,000 
18,000 

16,000 

13,000 

40,000 

2,228,000 

2,127,000 

101,000 

319,000 

16,000 

50,000 

7.800 


Distributed  by 
districts. 


Chesa- 
peake Bay 
district. 


13,187,000 


592.000 
247,000 

155,000 
62,000 
6,200 
28,000 
30,000 
15,000 
18.000 

1,600 

12,000 

17,000 

2,205,000 

2,113,000 

92,000 

319,000 

16,000 

50,000 

6,400 


Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 


S119.000 


92,000 
(') 

1,100 
3,  .500 
40,000 
2,400 
400 
7,200 


14,000 

500 

22,000 

24,000 

14,000 

9,600 

100 

1,400 


1,400 


Distributed  by  class 
of  fisheries. 


Vessel 

fisheries. 


$767,000 


67,  OCX) 
20,000 

4,600 

3.700 

100 

1,500 

30,000 

400 

800 


4,900 

1,300 

686,000 

676,000 

9,600 

15.000 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


12.539,000 


618,000 
227,000 

152,000 
61,000 
46,000 
29,000 
400 
22,000 
18,000 

16,000 

7,800 

38,000 

1,543,000 

1,451,000 

92.000 

305.000 

16,000 

60,000 

'7,800 


1  Less  than  tlOO. 

2  Includes  products  valued  as  follows:  Terrapin,  »4,90O;  'K>gs,  $.500;  turtles,  $400; 
squid,  $200;  and  sea  grass,  $1,700. 

Products,  by  cla,ss  of  fisheries. — Table  4,  on  page  151, 
gives  the  products  for  1908,  by  species  and  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture,  for  the  vessel  fisheries  of  the  state, 
all  of  which  are  confined  to  the  Chesapeake  Bay  dis- 
trict, and  Table  5,  on  page  152,  gives  similar  data  for 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  In  the  latter  the  four 
leading  species — oysters,  crabs,  shad,  and  alewives — 
aggregated  81,019,000  pounds,  or  94  per  cent  of  the 
total  product,  and  their  combined  value  was  $2,226,000, 
or  88  per  cent  of  the  total.  Oysters  alone  contributed 
89  per  cent  to  the  total  value  of  products  of  the  vessel 
fisheries  and  61  per  cent  to  the  total  value  of  products 
of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Of  the  value  of  the 
Maryland  oyster  product,  31  per  cent  was  reported  by 
the  vessel  fisheries  and  69  per  cent  by  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries.  Practically  the  entire  catch  of  men- 
haden was  made  by  vessels.  With  the  exception  of 
oysters  and  menhaden,  the  catch  by  vessels  was  small, 


compared  with  that  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
The  products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  district,  wliich  in  the  aggregate 
amounted  to  83,247,000  pounds,  having  a  value  of 
$2,420,000,  can  readily  be  ascertained  by  subtracting 
the  items  of  Table  4  from  the  corresponding  items  of 
Table  2  giving  the  total  products  of  the  Chesapeake 
Bay  district. 

The  tabular  statement  immediately  preceding  shows 
the  distribution  of  the  value  of  products  reported  for 
the  leading  species  between  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Products,  iy  a-pfaratus  of  capture. — All  but  5  per 
cent  of  the  total  products,  increased  by  value,  was 
taken  with  the  five  classes  of  apparatus  specified  in 
the  following  tabular  statement: 


VALUE  OF 

products:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Amotmt. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

$3,306,000 

100 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

2,393,000 
321,000 
174,000 
128,000 
124,000 
166,000 

72 
10 
S 

4 
4 

Gill  nets 

Seines 

Lines 

A 11  other 

6 

On  account  of  the  large  oyster  catch,  dredges,  tongs, 
etc.,  are  by  far  the  most  important  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture in  both  the  vessel  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries 
of  Chesapeake  Bay;  but  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  fish- 
eries the  largest  catch  was  credited  to  pound  and  trap 
nets.  For  the  fisheries  of  the  state  pound  and  trap 
nets  are  second  in  importance  as  apparatus  of  capture, 
and  are  used  for  taking  a  large  number  of  species. 
Alewives  made  up  the  bulk  of/  the  catch,  contributing 
82  per  cent  of  the  total  weight  and  32  per  cent  of 
the  total  value;  shad  stood  second,  following  closely 
in  value,  although  the  weight  of  this  product  was  only 
one-fifteenth  as  great  as  that  of  the  alewife  catch;  and 
squeteague  was  third. 

Oysters. — ^The  oyster  product  of  Maryland  for  1908 
was  substantially  greater  than  that  for  1904  but  less 
than  that  for  1897.  The  yield  for  1904  was  abnor- 
mally small,  a  fact  attributed  by  some  authorities  to 
the  two  exceptionally  cold  winters  just  preceding, 
which  killed  many  of  the  oysters.  The  value  of  the 
product,  however,  steadily  decreased  from  $2,885,000 
in  1897  to  $2,418,000  in  1904  and  to  $2,228,000  in  1908. 
This  decrease  of  $657,000,  or  23  per  cent,  in  the  value 
of  the  oyster  product  during  the  11  years  from  1897 
to  1908  contrasts  sharply  with  an  increase  of  $345,000, 
or  47  per  cent,  in  the  aggregate  value  of  all  other 
fishery  products  during  the  same  period.  From  1904 
to  1908,  however,  the  decrease  in  the  value  of  the 
oyster  yield,  which  amounted  to  $189,000,  or  8  per 


148 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


cent,  was  at  a  rate  only  one-half  as  great  as  that  of 
the  decrease  in  the  value  of  all  other  fishery  products 
during  this  period,  namely,  17  per  cent.  The  per- 
centage of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products  which 
was  represented  by  the  value  of  oysters  was  lower  in 
1908  than  in  1904,  1897,  or  1880,  as  is  shown  by  the 
following  tabular  statement: 


Total 

value  of 

fishery 

products. 

OYSTER  PRODUCT. 

TEAR. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

1908       

$3,306,000 
3,337,000 
3,617,000 
5,222,000 

6,232,000 
4,430,000 
7,255,000 
10,600,000 

$2,228,000 
2,418,000 
2,885,000 
4,730,000 

67 

1904 

72 

1897 

80 

1880 

91 

Of  the  total  oyster  product  of  1908,  6,076,000  bush- 
els, valued  at  $2,142,000,  were  furnished  by  public 
areas.  Private  areas  produced  only  market  oysters, 
and  of  these,  only  156,000  bushels,  valued  at  $86,000. 
Private  beds  were  of  considerably  more  importance 
in  1904,  when  they  were  credited  with  465,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $302,000.  No  record  of  the  yield  of  private 
areas  is  given  for  1897. 

Alewives. — The  bulk  of  the  catch  of  alewives,  locally 
called  herring,  was  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  product  was  larger 
in  1908  than  in  any  previous  year,  in  both  quantity 
and  value,  and  its  relative  importance  among  the  fish- 
ery products  of  the  state  was  greater.  The  quantity 
of  alewives  sold  fresh  in  1908  was  more  than  double 
that  in  1897,  and  the  value  more  than  a  third  higher. 
Compared  with  1904,  which  was  a  poor  year  for  this 
species,  the  increase  shown  for  1908  is  much  greater. 
The  quantity  sold  salted  has  steadily  decreased.  On 
account  of  an  increase  in  price,  the  value  for  1908  was 
in  excess  of  that  for  1897,  though  less  than  the  value 
reported  for  1904.  The  value  of  the  total  alewife  catch 
has  increased  steadily  since  1897,  from  $123,000  to 
$i57,000  in  1908.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  alewife  product  for  the  most  recent  years  for 
which  figures  are  available : 


ALEWTFE  PRODUCT. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Fresh. 

Salted. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

28,805,000 
14,485,000 
17,136,000 
9,129,000 

$157,000 
138,000 
123,000 
140,000 

24,451,000 
9,689,000 
11,727,000 

$98,000 
55,000 
73,000 

4,354,000 
4,896,000 
6,409,000 

$59,000 

1904. 

83,000 
51,000 

1897 

1880 

Grabs. — The  heavy  increase  shown  in  the  crab  prod- 
uct from  1897  to  1904  did  not  continue  up  to  1908. 
Although  a  gain  of  nearly  2,000,000  pounds  was 
reported  from  1904  to  1908,  the  value  decreased  by 
$39,000.  The  quantity  of  crabs  marketed  in  1908 
was  considerably  more  than  double  that  in  1897, 
and  the  returns  to  the  fishermen  were  46  per  cent 
greater. 


CRAB  PRODUCT. 

TKAB. 

Total. 

Hard  crabs.        i        Soft  crabs. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

20,373,000 
18,398,000 
9,449,000 

$319,000 
359,000 
218,000 

12,786,000 

12.665,000 

5,833,000 

$124,000 

169, noo 

40,000 

7,. 587, 000  $195, 000 

1904... 

5,733,000    190,000 

1897 

4.116,000    178.000 

' 

Menhaden. — The  menhaden  catch,  though  not  rela- 
tively important  on  the  basis  of  value,  is  conspicuous 
for  quantity.  In  1880  the  quantity  reported  was 
3,903,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000;  in  1897,  353,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $400;  in  1904,  9,849,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $20,000;  and  in  1890,  27,969,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $57,000.  This  species  has  such  migratory 
habits  that  the  catch  for  any  particular  year  can  not 
be  taken  as  characteristic  of  the  period  or  locaUty  in 
question. 

Shad. — The  catch  of  shad  has  increased  considerably 
since  1904,  3,937,000  pounds  being  taken  in  1908,  as 
compared  with  2,912,000  pounds  in  the  fonner  year. 
The  catch  in  1897,  however,  5,800,000  pounds,  was 
far  in  excess  of  those  in  either  of  the  later  years. 
Scarcity  and  increasing  demand,  however,  have  raised 
the  price,  so  that  while  the  catch  in  1904  was  only  half 
that  of  1897,  its  value  was  a  trifle  greater,  the  catch 
in  1904  being  valued  at  $160,000  and  that  in  1897  at 
$159,000.  The  price  has  continued  to  increase,  and 
the  1908  catch  was  valued  at  $247,000. 

Squeteague. — The  catch  of  squeteague,  or  sea  trout, 
reported  principally  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean  fisheries, 
was  larger  in  1908  and  of  greater  value  than  in  either 
1904  or  1897,  as  is  shown  by  the  following  tabular 
statement : 


TEAR, 

8QUETEAOU1B 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1,191,000 
785,000 
697,000 

$47,000 

1904                                      

23,000 

16,000 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— MARYLAND— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


149 


PBODUCT  CAUOHT  BY— 

SPEaES. 

TOTJX. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Tota! 

113,796,000 

$3,306,000 

27,106,000 

1321,000 

3,038,000 

(174,000 

17,983,000 

$128,000 

11,491,000 

$124,000 

769,000 

$39,000 

53,409,000 

$2,620,000 

Fish: 

Alewives,  or  river 
herring 

28,805,000 

15,000 

14,000 

151,000 

167,000 

409,000 
179,000 

39,000 
221,000 

47,000 

4,600 

4,400 

12,293,000 

47,000 

545,000 

359,000 

35,000 

300 

225,000 

3,937,000 

3,100 

640,000 

37,000 

8,100 

1,191,000 

26,000 

1,000 

12,786,000 

7,587,000 

6,900 

'82,000 

•39,718,000 

5  1,094,000 

8  2,812,000 
9,200 

8,100 
252,000 
'38,000 

157,000 

1,500 

700 

7,400 

7,100 

18,000 

5,300 

500 

13,000 
2,100 

500 

900 

30,000 

1,600 

30,000 

22,000 

3,800 

100 

6,800 

247,000 

100 

65,000 

5,000 

11,000 

47,000 

1,300 

800 
124,000 
195,000 

200 
16,000 

2,041,000 

86,000 

101,000 
4,900 

400 

1,700 

50,000 

22,255,000 

4,200 

2,300 

151,000 

49,000 

135,000 

104,000 

38,000 

10,000 

47,000 

2,700 

4,400 

1,032,000 

14,000 

219,000 

72,000 

7,000 

300 

300 

1,476,000 

2,800 

277,000 

7,600 

1,000 

1,107,000 

900 

103,000 

500 

100 

7,400 

1,700 

5,400 
4,900 
500 
1,000 
2,100 

300 

900 

1,700 

600 

12,000 

3,500 

800 

100 

(') 
100,000 
100 
27,000 

900 

1,000 

43,000 

100 

418,000 
7,600 
12,000 

2,400 
700 
500 

6,022,000 
3,200 

51,000 
400 

110,000 

500 

Bluefish 

500 

m 

Butterfisli 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

23,000 
17,000 

900 
600 

78,000 
59,000 

3,800 
2,300 

18,000 
177,000 

900 
8,000 

2,500 
7,300 

100 

14,000 

15,000 

600 

1,200 
400 
(') 

800 

Croaker 

Eels... 

3,800 

200 

26,000 

1,500 

175,000 

9,900 

100 

m 

Kingfish 

1,900 

200 

Menhaden 

11,261,000 
600 

103,000 
111,000 
12,000 

28,000 
(.') 

6,200 
8,900 
1,200 

Mullet 

28,000 

35,000 
24,000 
3,000 

800 

2,100 

2,000 

300 

300 

1,600 
800 

m 

100 

(«) 

4,400 

185,000 
151,000 
13,000 

200 

U),000 
7,800 

r,40o 

Perch,  white 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel. 
Pompano 



225,000 

6,800 

Shad  . 

2,282,000 

134,000 

74,000 

300 

152,000 

5,100 

m 

16,000 

36,000 

2,600 

71,000 

6,800 

Striped  bass 

Sturgeon 

152,000 

30,000 

7,100 

100 

1,100 

16,000 
4,100 
9,800 

500 

100 

49,000 

8,200 

9,000 

1,200 

Caviar  and  stur- 
geon eggs 

Squeteague 

Allotber 

8,800 
24,000 

700 
1,200 

75,000 

2,900 

100 

(') 

1,000 
1,741,000 
7,402,000 

500 

Crabs,  hard 

10,000 

100 

11,035,000 
115,000 

106,000 
8,800 

18,000 

71,000 

3,400 

186,000 

Squid. 

6,900 

200 

•82,000 

•39,718,000 

'1,094,000 

«  2, 812, 000 
3,800 

]£,00O 

2,041,000 
86,000 
101,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 
public  areas 

Oysters,  market,  from 
private  areas 

Oysters,   seed,    from 
public  areas 

Terrapin 

3,300 
200 

2,200 
(•) 



2,200 
1,600 

700 
100 

2,000 

Turtles 

300 

m 

6,000 

300 

282,000 
'38,000 
(•5 

1,700 
60,000 
(•) 

Skins,  muskrat 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc. ,  50,250,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,393,000;  dip  nets,  2,817,000  pounds,  valued  at  $59,000;  otter  and  muskrat 
traps,  39,000  pounds,  valued  at  $50,000;  eel  pots,  181,000  pounds,  valued  at  $10,000;  bow  nets,  36,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,600;  trammel  nets,  12,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200; 
and  minor  apparatus,  75,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,700. 

"  X>ess  than  $100.  » 10,000  bushels.  •  5,674,000  bushels.  '156,000  bushels.  •  402,000  bushels.  '  115,000  skins.  «  Less  than  100  pounds. 


150 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— MARYLAND— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  CHESAPEAKE  BAY  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Found  and  trap 
nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Ail  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 

(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

111,193.000 

$3,187,000 

26,775,000 

$268,000 

2,946,000 

$156,000 

17,565.000 

$116,000 

11,182.000 

$114,000 

769,000 

$39,000 

52.956.000 

$2,494,000 

Fish: 

Alewives,  or  river 
herring,  fresh 

24.345,000 

4,354,000 
15,000 
14.000 
5,800 

166,000 
409,000 
4,200 
26,000 
214,000 

31,000 

2,500 

12,053,000 

20,000 

520,000 

287,000 

31,000 

3,936,000 

604,000 

6,600 

900 

188,000 
29,000 

1,000 

12,779,000 

7,687,000 

3  74,000 

•39,665,000 

5  1,012,000 

•2,513,000 
7,600 

5,100 
262,000 
'38,000 
(•) 

97.000 

59,000 

1,500 

000 

200 

7,100 

18,000 

100 

400 

12,000 

1,600 
200 

30,000 
800 

28,000 

15,000 

3,400 

247,000 

62,000 

700 

900 

6,200 
1,300 

500 

124,000 

195,000 

15,000 

2,036,000 

77,000 

92,000 
3,900 

200 
1,700 
60,000 
(«) 

19,577,000 

2,673,000 
4,200 
1,700 
5,800 

49,000 
135,000 
4,200 
24,000 
16,000 

31,000 

600 

1,002,000 

14,000 

218,000 

72,000 

7,000 

1,475,000 

276,000 

5,200 

600 

170,000 
3,100 

68,000 

35.000 
SOO 
100 
200 

1,700 

5,400 

100 

400 

1,000 

1,600 
(») 

1,700 

600 

12,000 

3.500 

800 

100,000 

27,000 

600 

400 

5,200 
100 

418,000 

200 
7,400 
12.000 

2.400 

m 

700 
500 

4,241,000 

1,680,000 
3,000 

20,000 

23.000 
400 

110,000 

500 

Alewives,  or  river 
herring,  salted.. 

500 

m 

Butterfish . .     . 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

22,000 
17,000 

900 
600 

77,000 
59,000 

3.500 

2.300 

15,000 
177,000 

900 
8,400 

2,500 
7.300 

100 

14,000 

1,200 

SOO 

Drum,  salt-water 

500 

(') 

Eels 

3,800 

200 

26,000 

1.500 

169,000 

9,400 

100 

(») 

Kingfish 

1,900 

200 

11,051,000 

600 

85,000 

51,000 

9,000 

74.000 

130,000 

28,666 

m 

4,400 

2,900 

1,000 

5,100 

14,000 

Mullet 

800 
30,000 

12,000 

1,800 

2,282,000 

140,000 

1,400 

300 

100 
1,100 

1,600 

800 

200 

134,000 

14,000 

100 

400 

h 

300 
1,000 

800 

100 

4,400 
185,000 

151,000 
13,000 
35,000 
49,000 

200 
10.000 

7.800 
1.400 
2.  .500 
5,200 

Perch,  white  .  . 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel. 
Shad 

71.000 
9.000 

5,800 

Striped  bass 

600 

100 

1,200 

Caviar  and  stur- 
geon eggs 

Squeteague,  or  sea 

5,600 
24,000 

500 
1,200 

13.000 

400 

100 

m 

1,000 

1,739,000 

7,402.000 

"74.000 

<39,606,000 

5  1,012.000 

'2,513,000 
2,100 

500 

8,400 

(') 

11,032,000 
116,000 

106,000 
5,500 

18,000 

71,000 

3,400 

186,000 

15,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

2,036,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 
private  areas 

Oysters,   seed,   from 
public  areas 

Terranin 

77,000 

92,000 

3,300 
200 

2,200 

m 

2,200 
1,600 

700 
100 

1,000 

Turtles 

300 

(«) 

3,000 

100 

252,000 
'38,000 

1,700 

Skins,  muskrat 

50,000 

(•) 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  49,807,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,368,000;  dip  nets,  2,817,000  pounds,  valued  at  $59,000;  otter  and  musk 
rat  traps,  39,000  pounds,  valued  at  $50,000;  eel  pots,  175,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,800;  bow  nets,  36,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,600;  trammel  nets,  12,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$1,200;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  800  pounds,  valued  at  $100;  and  minor  apparatus,  73,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,700. 

<  Less  than  $100.  >  9,200  bushels.  <  5,666,000  bushels.  >  145,000  bushels.  •  359,000  bushels.  '  115,000  skins.  >  Leas  than  100  pounds. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— MARYLAND— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  ATLANTIC  OCEAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


151 


PBODUCT  CAUQHT  BT— 

Pound  and 

GUI  nets. 

SPECIES. 

trap  nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

AU  other  apparattu.  ■ 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity       y  , 
(pounds).       ^*'"^- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

2,602.000 

$119,000 

1,330,000 

$53,000 

93.000      $17,000 

418.000 

$12,000 

309,000 

$9,900 

453,000 

$27,000 

Fish: 

Alewlves.  or  river  herring... 

106,000 

145,000 

175,000 

14,000 

6,200 

16.000 

2.100 

4.400 

240.000 

27,000 

25,000 

72,000 

3,700 

300 

225,000 

35.000 
31.000 

7,200 
1,002.000 

3,300 

6,500 

6.900 

'  8.400 

< 53.000 

•82,000 

•300,000 

1.600 

3,000 

1.100 

7,200 

5,200 

100 

500 

500 
300 
900 
400 
800 

2.400 

7.200 

400 

100 

6,800 

3,500 

4,300 

10,000 

40,000 

200 

100 

200 

1,400 

4.700 

9,400 

9,600 

1,000 

200 

5,000 

145.000 

irO.DOO 

14.000 

100 
7.200 
4,800 

100 

101,000 

1,000 

15,000 

400 

Eels 

6,200 

500 

16.000 
2,100 
4,400 

30.000 

600 
300 
900 
100 

Kin^fish 

210.000 

400 

Mullet 

27,000 

5,000 
12,000 
1,200 

800 

500 

1,200 

100 

900 

100 

18.000 

60.000 

2.500 

1,800 

6,000 

200 

60O 

(') 

Pike                             .     . 

300 

100 

225,000 

6,800 

1,200 

2,400 

400 

937,000 

2,300 

1,500 
6,900 

100 
300 
600 
38,000 
100 

(•) 
200 

12,000 

28,000 

6,800 

1,200 
4,000 
9,400 

22,000 

2,200 

Caviar  and  sturgeon  eggs. . . 

Squeteague,  or  trout 

All  other 

3,200 
9nn 

200 
(') 

62,000 

2,500 

200 

(1) 

3,000 

(') 

2,000 

(«) 

•8,400 

<  53,000 

•82,000 

•300,000 

1,600 

1,400 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 

4,700 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 

9,400 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. 

9,600 

1,000 

3,000 

200 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  443,000  pounds,  valued  at  $25,000;  eel  pots,  6,200  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  and  minor  apparatus,  1,600, 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,000. 

»  Less  than  $100.  >  1,000  bushels.  <  7,600  bushels.  »  12,000  bushels.  •  43,000  bushels. 

Table  4.— MARYLAND— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUQHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

Found  and  trap  nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

All  other  apparstos.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

27,946,000 

$767,000 

1,938,000 

$21,000 

113.000 

$8,000 

U. 092,000 

$31,000 

41,000 

$2,000 

14,762,000 

$705,000 

Fish: 

Alewlves,  or  river  herring... 

778,000 

400 

18,000 

22,000 

84,000 

4,400 

12,021.000 

28,000 

7,600 

4.600 

266.000 

36.000 

900 

480.000 
348,000 

•13,391,000 

'90.000 
'368,000 

4.600 

600 

800 

4,900 

200 

30,000 

1,500 

400 

500 

20,000 

3,700 

100 

6.200 
8,300 

670,000 

6,400 
9,600 

776,000 

400 

1,000 

2,200 

500 

4,400 

970,000 

6,600 

4,500 

(•) 

200 

1,600 

400 

2,500 

100 

16,000 
1,000 

600 

(■> 

1,000 

100 

16.000 
500 

600 

(•) 

1,700 
83,000 

100 

Eels...                

4,800 

11,051,000 

8,000 

100 

300 

28,000 
400 

(•) 

(') 

Perch  white 

14,000 
7,000 

3,800 

700 
400 

400 

500 

(') 

500 

168.000 

9,300 

400 

100 
13.000 
800 
(') 

Shad 

97.000 
12.000 

6,500 
1,300 

15,000 
600 

1,600 
100 

200 

(') 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout 

480.000 
348,000 

•13,391,000 

< 90.000 
•368,000 

0,200 

8,300 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 

670,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 

6,400 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. 

9,600 

1 

I  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  14,674,000  pounds,  valued  at  $698,000;  eel  pots,  84,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,900;  lines,  95,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $2,100;  and  nets,  8,800  pounds,  valued  at  $200. 

>  Less  than  $100.  •  1,913,000  bushels.  <  13,000  bushels.  •  53.000  bushels. 


162 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  5.— MARYLAND— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

om  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value, 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

85,850,000 

$2,539,000 

25,167,000 

S.300,000 

2,926.000 

$166,000 

11,396,000 

$122,000 

6,891,000 

$97,000 

728,000 

$37,000 

38,744.000 

$1,817,000 

Fish: 

Alewlves,    or    river 

herring,  fresh 

Alewives,    or    river 
herring,  salted 

23,673,000 

4,354,000 

15,000 

14,000 

151,000 

149,000 
387,000 
179,000 
39,000 
137,000 

42,000 

4,600 

4,400 

272,000 

47,000 

516,000 

351,000 

30,000 

300 

225,000 

3,672,000 

3,100 

604,000 

37,000 

8,100 

1,190,000 
26,000 

1,000 

12,306,000 

7,239,000 

6,900 

»82,000 

•26,327,000 

5  1,004,000 

•2,444,000 
9,200 

8,100 
252,000 
'38,000 

C) 

93,000 

59,000 

1,500 

600 

7,400 

6,500 

18,000 

5,300 

500 

7,800 

1,900 
500 
900 
400 

1,600 

29,000 

22,000 

3,300 

100 

6,800 

227,000 

100 

61,000 

5,000 

11,000 

46,000 
1,300 

500 
118,000 
187,000 

200 
16,000 

1,372,000 

80,000 

92,000 
4,900 

400 
1,700 
50,000 
(') 

18,807,000 

2,673,000 

4,200 

1,800 

151,000 

48,000 

133,000 

164,000 

38,000 

16,000 

42,000 
2,700 
4,400 
62,000 
14,000 

212,000 

72,000 

6,500 

300 

300 

1,308,000 

2,800 

268,000 

7,600 

1,000 

1,106,000 
900 

63,000 

35,000 

500 

100 

7,400 

1,000 
5,400 
4,900 
500 
1,000 

1,900 
300 
900 
100 
600 

12,000 

3,500 

700 

100 

m 

86,000 

lOO 

27,000 

900 

1,000 

43,000 
100 

415,000 

200 
7,500 
12,000 

2,300 

m 

700 
500 

4,342,000 

1,680,000 
3,200 

27,000 

23,000 
400 

110,000 

500 

Bluefish 

500 

(') 

Butterflsh 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

23,000 
16,000 

900 
600 

61,000 
58,000 

2,900 
2,300 

15,000 
161,000 

900 
7,800 

2,500 
5,600 



100 

14,000 

15,000 

500 

1,200 
400 
(') 

400 

Croaicer                

Eels                 

3,800 

200 

25,000 

1,500 

92,000 

5,100 

Flounders 

100 

m 

iringflsh 

1,900 

200 

Mackerel 

210,000 
COO 

95,000 

111,000 

11,000 

400 

5,800 
8,900 
1,200 

Mullet       

28,000 

35,000 
24,000 
3,000 

800 

2,100 

1,900 

300 

300 

1,600 
800 

100 

4,400 

172,000 

144,000 

9,600 

200 

9,400 
7,400 
1,100 

Perch,  white 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel 

Sea  bass 

225,000 

6,800 

Shad... 

2,185,000 

127,000 

74,000 

300 
137,000 

5,100 

m 

14,000 

35,000 

2,500 

71,000 

5,800 

Spot 

140,000 
30,000 

7,100 

100 
1,100 

14,000 
4,100 

9,800 

m 
h 

500 

100 

48,000 

6,200 

9,000 

1,200 

Caviar  and  sturgeon 
eggs 

Squeteague,   or  sea 
trout 

75,000 

2,900 

8,300 
24,000 

600 
1,200 

Another 

100 

(■) 

1,000 
1,358,000 
7,054,000 

SOO 

10,000 

100 

10,940,000 
115,000 

104,000 
5,500 

14,000 

Crabs, soft 

71,000 

3,400 

178,000 

Squid 

6,900 

200 

•82,000 

<26,327,000 

•1,004,000 

•2,444,000 
3,800 

16,000 

Oysters,   market,   from 

1,372,000 

Oysters,   market,   from 

80,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pub- 
lic areas 

92,000 

3,300 
200 

2,200 
(») 

2,200 
1,600 

700 
100 

2,000 

Turtles 

6,000 

300 

300 

m 

Sea  grass 

252,000 

'38.000 

(') 

1,700 

50,000 

S1rin<i,  ottpr 

(') 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  35,676,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,695,000;  dip  nets,  2,809,000  pounds,  valued  at  $59,000;  otter  and  musk- 
rat  traps,  39,000  pounds,  valued  at  $50,000;  eel  pots,  97,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,500;  bow  nets,  36,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,600;  trammel  nets,  11,000  poimds,  valued  at 
$1,200;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  800  pounds,  valued  at  $100;  and  minor  apparatus,  74.000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,700. 

I  Less  than  $100.  >  10,000  busheb.  <  761,000  bushels.  '  143,000  bushels.  •  349,000  bushels.  '  115,000  skim.  •  Less  than  100  pounds. 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

In  the  value  of  fishery  products  and  in  the  amount 
of  capital  invested  in  the  fishery  industry  Massachu- 
setts ranked  first  among  the  states,  while  in  the 
number  of  persons  employed  it  ranked  third,  Virginia 
being  first  and  Maryland  second.  Cod,  haddock,  and 
mackerel  were  the  most  important  species  taken,  the 
catch  of  each  of  these  being  larger  than  that  of  the 
respective  species  in  any  other  state.  Massachusetts 
ranked  first  also  in  the  catch  of  15  other  species  or 
forms  of  fish  product,  and  second  in  10  others. 

The  preeminence  of  the  state  was  due  to  the  great 
importance  of  its  vessel  fisheiies,  the  headquarters 
of  which  are  located  in  a  few  ports,  notably 
Gloucester  and  Boston.     On  this  account  statistics 


are  presented  separately  for  the  counties  in  which 
these  cities  are  situated,  namely,  Essex  County  and 
Suffolk  County;  the  statistics  for  the  rest  of  the  state 
are  presented  under  the  head  "All  other  counties." 
The  Essex  County  district  takes  in  the  ports  along  the 
north  shore  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  on  Cape  Ann,  and 
north  to  the  New  Hampshire  line,  with  Gloucester  as 
the  chief  port.  The  Suffolk  County  district  repre- 
sents principally  the  city  of  Boston,  while  the  group 
"All  other  counties"  embraces  the  counties  of  Nor- 
folk, Plymouth,  Barnstable,  Bristol,  Dukes,  and 
Nantucket,  including  the  ports  on  the  south  shore  of 
Massachusetts  Bay,  Cape  Cod,  and  Buzzards  Bay.  A 
summary  of  the  principal  statistics  for  the  state  and 
for  the  several  districts  is  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement : 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


153 


Total. 

Essex 
County. 

Suffolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Number  of  persons  employed . .. 
Capital; 

Vessels  and  boats,  including 
outfit . 

11,577 

$4,759,000 
775,000 

215,000 
7,095,000 

4,725 

$2,157,000 
320,000 

35,000 
3,030,000 

2,305 

$1,402,000 
105,000 

46,000 
1,749,000 

4,547 
$1,200,000 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  prop- 
erty and  cash . 

290,000 
134,000 

2,316,000 

The  importance  of  Essex  County  in  every  item, 
except  shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash,  is 
apparent. 

Comparison  with  -previous  canvasses. — By  examina- 
tion of  the  statistics  for  18S9,  1898,  1902,  and  1905 
presented  in  the  following  tabular  statement,  it  will  be 
seen  that  at  each  successive  canvass,  except  that  of 
1898,  a  larger  value  of  products  was  reported  than  at 
the  preceding  canvass,  but  that  for  the  other  items  the 
figures  for  1908  are  considerably  less  than  those  for 


1889.  During  the  past  decade,  however,  there  has 
been  a  gradual  improvement  in  every  respect,  except 
that  the  number  of  persons  employed  and  the  weight 
of  the  catch  decreased  slightly  from  1905  to  1908. 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPUENT. 

PEODUCTS. 

TEAK. 

Total. 

Vessels 
and  boats, 
including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

11,535 
12,618 
11,387 
10,341 
14,599 

$5,534,000 
5,216,000 
4,742,CXX) 
3,450,000 
5,903,000 

$4,759,000 
4,453,000 
4,139,000 
2.894,000 
4,893,000 

$775,000 

762,000 

603,000 

557,000 

1,010,000 

244,313,000 
255,654,000 
230,646,000 
202,258,000 
299,218,000 

$7,095,000 

1905 

7,025,000 

1902 

6,482,000 

1S98.. 

4,464,000 

1889 

5,858,000 

Persons  employed. — The  following  table  shows  the 
distribution  of  the  persons  employed  in  the  fisheries 
of  Massachusetts,  by  districts  and  by  class  of  service, 
for  the  state  and  for  each  county  district: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTKICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fisher- 
men. 

Salaried 

em- 
ployees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total 

11,577 

13,141 

23 

8,413 

$2,743,000 

$19,000 

2 $2, 723, 000 

Vessel  fisheries 

7,568 
63 

3,904 
42 

468 

8 

2,665 

15 
2 
6 

7,085 
63 

1,233 
42 

2,408,000 

27,000 

294,000 

14,000 

14,000 
2,600 
3,000 

2,394,000 

25,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

291,000 

flhnrPRTnpn . 

14,000 

llfifK^X  County 

4,725 

871 

11 

3,843 

1,116,000 

11,000 

1,105,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

3,727 

20 

973 

5 

2,305 

125 

1 

74S 

8 
2 

1 

3,694 

17 

227 

5 

1,994 

1,054,000 

12,000 

49,000 

1,100 

803,000 

7,500 

2,500 

700 

1,046,000 

9,300 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries .     .                                              

49,000 

Shoresmen 

1,100 

306 

5 

4,600 

798,000 

1,819 

27 

458 

1 

4,547 

57 

2 

247 

S 

1,767 

26 

211 

1 

2,576 

737,000 

13,000 

52,000 

800 

824,000 

4,600 

732,000 

Transporting  vessels       ...                .                .          .                               .... 

13,000 

Rhnrp  and  hnat  fishpriei 

52,000 

800 

All  Other  counties 

1,964 

7 

4,100 

820,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

2,022 
16 

2,473 
36 

286 

5 

1,673 

2 

1,734 

11 

795 

36 

!        617,000 

2,100 

192,000 

12,000 

1,800 

616,000 

Transporting  vessels 

2,100 

Shore  and  hooX  fisheries 

S 

2,300 

190,000 

Phorp<tmpn 

12,000 

>  Exclusive  of  943  proprietors  not  fishing. 

The  number  of  persons  employed  in  the  fisheries  of 
Massachusetts  formed  8  per  cent  of  the  total  number 
for  the  United  States.  Of  the  42  shoresmen,  15  were 
employed  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  remaining  27 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  While  in  the  country 
as  a  whole  shore  and  boat  fishermen  outnumbered 
vessel  fishermen  in  the  proportion  of  about  three  to 
one,  in  Massachusetts  the  vessel  fishermen  were  nearly 
twice  as  numerous  as  the  shore  and  boat  fishermen, 
forming  21  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  vessel  fish- 
ermen in  the  United  States.  Independent  fishermen 
throughout  the  country  comprised  50  per  cent  of  all 
persons  engaged  in  fishing,  but  in  Massachusetts  wage- 
earners  constituted  73  per  cent  of  the  persons  employed. 
This  predominance  of  wage-earners  was  due  to  the 


>  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $103,000. 

vessel  fisheries,  for  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  the 
number  of  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  was 
more  than  twice  the  number  of  persons  working  for 
wages  or  salaries. 

Essex  County  reported  28  per  cent  of  the  proprie- 
tors and  independent  fishermen  and  46  per  cent  of  the 
total  number  of  employees  in  the  state.  Of  the  wage- 
earners  in  the  vessel  fisheries,  Essex  County  had  51 
per  cent,  but  it  had  only  18  per  cent  of  the  wage-earners 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  In  the  latter  class  of 
fisheries  64  per  cent  of  the  wage-earners  were  reported 
by  the  southern  counties  included  under  the  head 
"All  other  counties." 

Suffolk  County  showed  the  same  predominance  of 
wage-earners  as  Essex  County,  but  the  total  number 


154 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


and  the  number  in  vessel  fisheries  were  only  about 
one-half  as  great.  The  number  of  wage-earners  in 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  was  about  the  same  in 
Suffolk  County  as  in  Essex  County.  Nearly  three- 
fourths  (73  per  cent)  of  the  vessel  fishermen  were 
found  in  Essex  and  Suffolk  Counties  and  nearly  two- 
thirds  (63  per  cent)  of  the  shore  and  boat  fishermen 
were  found  in  the  group  comprising  the  other  counties. 
Equipment  aTid  other  capital. — The  following  table 
gives,  by  county  districts,  the  value  of  equipment  and 
the  amount  of  other  capital  employed  in  the  fisheries 
of  Massachusetts: 


vaute  ot  eotjipment  and  othee 
capital:  1908. 

Total. 

Essex 
County. 

Suflolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Total 

15,750,000 

S2, 513, 000 

»1, 613, 000 

$1,624,000 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

4,282,000 

4,204,000 

710,000 

563,000 

147,000 

3,494,000 

2,29.3,000 

1,201,000 

600 

79,000 

71,000 

65,000 

6,200 

7,600 

7,000 

500 

477,000 

376,000 

64,000 

37,000 

10,000 

775,000 

615,000 

260,000 

164,000 

51,000 

2,068,000 

2,032,000 

252,000 

188,000 

64,000 

1,780,000 

1,215,000 

605,000 

1,332,000 

1,301,000 

176,000 

148,000 

29.000 

1,125,000 

746,000 

380,000 

882,000 
870  000 

Fishing 

Steam  and  motor. . 

281  000 

227,000 

55,000 

i-jSS.OOO 

332,000 

Outfit 

Sail 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Other 

36,000 

33,000 

30,000 

3,400 

2,100 

2,000 

100 

90,000 

67,000 

10,000 

12,000 

31,000 

27,000 

25,000 

1,900 

4,100 

3,600 

400 

70,000 

65,000 

600 

4,000 

12,000 
11  000 

St^vim  ftrlfl  mnt.nr 

10,000 

800 

1  .300 

Outfit 

Sail 

Vessels. . 

l^SOO 

Outfit 

Boats 

318,000 

244.000 

43,000 

21  000 

Steam  and  motor. . 

Sail 

Row 

Other 

10,000 
290,000 

99,000 

192,000 

127,000 

7,400 

Ai)paratus  of  capture .... 

320,000 

271,000 

49,000 

30.000 

5,700 

165,000 
145,000 

20,000 
7,800 

38,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries. . 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash 

The  investment  of  Massachusetts  in  the  fishing 
industry  was  larger  than  that  of  any  other  state,  com- 
prising 14  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  United  States. 
Practically  three-fourths  (74  per  cent)  of  the  total  state 
investment  was  in  fishing  vessels  and  their  outfits. 
The  totar  value  of  vessels  and  boats  in  this  state  was 
more  than  double  that  in  the  state  next  in  rank, 
Virginia,  and  formed  19  per  cent  of  the  total  invest- 
ment in  vessels  and  boats  for  the  United  States.  In 
the  value  of  boats  alone  and  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
however,  Massachusetts  was  outranked  by  several 
states  in  which  shore  and  boat  fisheries  were  more 
prominent.  Apparatus  of  capture  represented  13  per 
cent  of  the  Massachusetts  investment,  having  a  value 
higher  than  the  value  of  boats  and  of  shore  and  acces- 
sory property  combined  with  cash  capital. 

The  value  of  all  sailing  vessels,  including  outfits,  was 
between  four  and  five  times  that  of  steam  vessels,  being 
$3,501,000,  as  compared  with  $781,000.  Among  the 
boats,  however,  power-driven  craft  contributed  79  per 
cent  of  the  total  value. 

The  following  table  gives  detailed  statistics  concern- 
ing the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels  and  the  number 
of  boats : 


CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 


Vessels,  number 

Fishing,  number 

Steam  and  motor — 

Numlter 

Tonnage 

Sail- 

Number 

Tonnage 

Other,  numljer 

Transporting,  number. . 
Steam  and  motor- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Boats,  number 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Other 


VESSELS  AUD   BOATS:    1908. 


Total. 


664 

638 

244 
3,561 

394 

26,215 

7 

26 

19 
314 

7 

211 

3,694 

1,114 

319 

2,145 

116 


County. 


282 
274 

62 
1,212 

212 
13,443 


5 
118 

3 

97 
906 
242 

38 
626 


Suflolk 
County. 


117 
106 


96 
6,046 


12 

10 
146 

2 

71 

389 

177 

3 

209 


AU  other 
counties. 


265 
259 

173 
1,828 

88 

6,726 

7 

6 

4 
51 

2 
43 

2,399 
695 
278 

1,310 
116 


Of  the  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture,  approx- 
imately two-thirds  was  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  one- 
third  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  distribution 
of  the  several  kinds  of  apparatus  by  districts  and  by 
class  of  fisheries  is  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement : 


Bag  nets 

Beam  trawls 

Cast  nets 

Coclde  nets  and  traps 

Cunner  nets  and  traps 

Dip  nets 

Flounder  dredges 

Fyke  nets 

Gill  nets 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Pots — crab,  eel,  and  lobster 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

Seines ' 


APPARATUS  or  captdre:  1908. 


Total. 


20 

126 

2 

1,059 

180 

371 

11 

42 

9,045 

1,577 

43,342 

216 


Essex 
County. 


Distributed  by  districts. 


Suflolk 
County. 


283 
146 
164 


7 

4,500 

541 

11,986 

41 

192 


646 
34 
139 


343 

6,862 

6 

M 


All 
other 
coun- 
ties. 


126 

2 

130 


78 
11 

35 

3,757 

693 

24,495 

169 

143 


Distributed  by 
class  of 
fisheries. 


Vessel 
fisher- 
ies. 


10 

1 

8,280 

1,238 

2,176 

25 


Shore 
and 
.boat 
fisher- 
ies. 


20 

58 

2 

1,009 

180 

371 

1 

41 

765 

339 

41,166 

191 

90 


1  Includes  otter  trawls. 

Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  159,  gives  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state,  l)y  species  and  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture. 

Sixty  distinct  species  were  represented,  the  most 
important  being  cod,  haddock,  and  mackerel,  which 
together  contributed  53  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all 
fishery  products  of  the  state.  The  cod  and  the  had- 
dock catch  each  exceeded  a  million  dollars  in  value. 
For  eight  other  products — clams  (including  all  three 
varieties,  hard,  soft,  and  razor),  herring,  pollack,  hali- 
but, lobsters,  sperm  oil,  hake,  and  oysters — values  in 
excess  of  $200,000  were  reported.  The  value  reported 
for  the  11  species  named  formed  86  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  products.  Flounders,  swordfish,  and 
scallops  had  values  in  excess  of  $100,000. 

Products,  hy  county  districts. — The  fishery  products, 
by  principal  species  and  by  county  districts,  are  given 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


155 


in  Table  2,  on  page  160,  where  (hey  are  ranked  accord- 
ing to  the  value  reported  for  the  state  as  a  whole. 

The  value  of  the  products  was  distributed  among  the 
districts  as  follows:  Essex  County,  43  per  cent;  Suf- 
folk County,  25  per  cent;  and  "All  other  counties,"  33 
per  cent.  The  products  reported  for  "All  other  coun- 
ties" were  much  more  diversified  than  those  of  Essex 
and  Suffolk  Counties.  Cod  was  the  leading  species 
with  respect  to  value  in  Essex  and  Suffolk  Counties. 
Mackerel  ranked  next  to  cod  in  value  in  Essex  County, 
and  haddock  in  Suffolk  County.  In  the  rest  of  the 
state  whale  products  ranked  first  and  cod  second. 
Haddock  and  mackerel  were  important  products  in 
each  district.  All  the  oysters  and  whale  products, 
and  57  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  clams,  were  re- 
ported by  the  southern  counties  grouped  under  the 
designation  "All  other  counties." 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — Tables  3  and  4,  on 
pages  161  and  162,  give  the  products  for  the  vessel 
fisheries  and  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  respec- 
tively, by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture.  The 
values  of  the  chief  species  of  products  for  each  class 
of  fisheries  were  as  follows: 


Total 

Fish 

Cod 

Haddock 

Mackerel 

Herring 

Pollack 

HaUbut 

Hake 

Flounders 

Swordfish 

Ail  other 

Clams 

Whale  oil,  sperm  oil,  and  whalebone 

Lobster 

Oysters 

Scallops 

Cocldes 

Irish  moss 

All  other 


VAI.0K  or  PKODUCTS:   1908. 


Total. 


J7, 095,000 


5,637,000 

1,944,000 

1,038,000 

761,000 

342,000 

313,000 

310,000 

294,000 

146,000 

122,000 

367,000 

378,000 

336,000 

,307,000 

218,000 

120,000 

34,000 

25,000 

40,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


t5, 497, 000 


4,971,000 

1,811,000 

985,000 

742,000 

245,000 

265,000 

309,000 

281,000 

66,000 

121,000 

147,000 

14,000 

3,36,000 

14,000 

97,000 

44,000 

4,300 


18,000 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$1,598,000 


666,000 

133,000 

52,000 

19,000 

97,000 

48,000 

1,700 

13,000 

81,000 

900 

220,000 

365,000 


294,000 
121,000 
76,000 
29,000 
25,000 
21,000 


The  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  represented  77 
per  cent  of  the  total  value,  and  those  of  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  23  per  cent.  All  the  products  shown 
separately  in  the  table  were  reported  for  both  classes 
of  fisheries,  with  the  exception  of  the  whale  products, 
which  were  confined  to  the  vessel  fisheries,  and  Irish 
moss,  reported  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  only. 
Of  the  species  not  shown  separately,  13  which  were  re- 
turned by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  were  absent 
from  the  reports  of  vessel  fisheries,  and  12  appearing 
in  the  returns  of  the  latter  were  not  reported  for  the 
former.  For  the  vessel  fisheries  the  rank  of  the  lead- 
ing products  with  respect  to  value  followed  closely 
the  order  for  the  state  as  a  whole — cod,  haddock,  and 
mackerel  leading  by  a  wide  margin,  with  a  combined 


value  which  formed  64  per  cent  of  that  of  the  total 
product  of  these  fisheries.  In  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  on  the  other  hand,  clams  and  lobsters  led, 
with  a  value  equal  to  41  per  cent  of  the  total,  and  these 
were  followed  by  cod,  oysters,  and  herring. 

Tables,  on  page  163,  gives  the  products  of  the  vessel 
fisheries,  by  species  and  by  county  districts.  The  sta- 
tistics of  the  vessel  catch  in  each  district  show  the 
same  general  characteristics  as  those  of  the  vessel  catch 
of  the  state  as  a  whole,  except  that  for  the  Suffolk 
County  district  the  value  of  the  cod  product  is  surpassed 
by  that  of  haddock,  w^hile  in  the  district  designated  as 
"All  other  counties"  it  was  exceeded  by  that  of  the 
whale  products. 

Table  6,  on  page  164,  gives  the  products  of  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  by  species  and  by  county  districts. 
In  tliis  class  of  fisheries  conditions  directly  opposite  to 
those  appearing  in  the  vessel  fisheries  exist,  not  only 
as  to  the  rank  of  leading  species,  but  also  as  to  the 
importance  of  districts. 

In  the  vessel  fisheries  Essex  County  contributed  47 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  for  the  state; 
Suffolk  County,  29  per  cent;  and  "All  other  counties," 
24  per  cent.  In  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  district  designated  "AU  other  coun- 
ties" reported  63  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  prod- 
ucts, while  Essex  County  had  27  per  cent  and  Suffolk 
County  only  10  per  cent.  Only  14  species  were  taken 
in  the  Suffolk  County  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  of 
which  four — lobsters,  herring,  cod,  and  flounders — 
contributed  70  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts. In  Essex  County  twice  that  number  of  species 
were  included  in  the  shore  and  boat  product,  but  64 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  this  product  represented  the 
value  of  clams  and  lobsters.  In  the  district  desig- 
nated "All  other  counties"  35  species  made  up  the 
product.  Although  the  quantities  of  cod,  flounders, 
herring,  haddock,  pollack,  and  other  important  spe- 
cies reported  were  nearly  as  large  or  larger  than  those 
credited  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Essex  or 
Suffolk  County,  the  leading  species  were  clams,  lob- 
sters, and  oystei-s,  which  contributed  46  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  the  products. 

Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  value  of  the 
catch,  by  each  form  of  apparatus  of  capture,  is  given 
for  the  two  classes  of  fisheries  in  the  next  tabular 
statement. 

In  the  two  classes  of  fisheries  much  the  same  appa- 
ratus was  used,  but  the  prominence  of  particular  forms 
differed.  Lines  predominated  in  the  vessel  fisheries, 
while  seines,  gill  nets,  and  whaling  apparatus  followed 
in  importance  in  the  order  named.  In  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  the  principal  forms  of  apparatus,  ranked 
according  to  the  value  of  the  catch,  were  dredges, 
tongs,  etc.;  pots  and  traps;  lines;  and  pound  nets,  trap 


156 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


nets,  and  weirs.  From  this  it  will  be  seen  that  the 
leading  kinds  of  apparatus  in  one  class  of  fisheries 
were  of  minor  importance  in  the  other. 


KIND  OF  APPABATUS. 


Total 

Lines 

Seines 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Gill  nets 

Whaling  apparatus 

Crab,  eel,  and  lobster  pots  and  traps 
Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs. . . 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  PKODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


$7,095,000 


3,930,000 
806,000 
741,000 
393,000 
336,000 
325,000 
266,000 
130,000 
169,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$5,497,000 


3,649,000 

754,000 

156,000 

384,000 

336,000 

15,000 

30,000 

122,000 

53,000 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$1,598,000 


281,000 

61,000 

586,000 

9,000 


310,000 

236,000 

7,800 

116,000 


The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  value  of 
the  catch  made  with  each  form  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
by  county  districts: 


VALDE  OP  PBODUCTS:  1908. 

KIND  OP  AFPAKATUS. 

Total. 

Essex 
County. 

Suffolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Total 

$7,095,000 

$3,030,000 

$1,749,000 

$2,316,000 

Lines. 

3,930,000 

806,000 
741,000 
393,000 
336,000 

325,000 
206,000 
130,000 
169,000 

1,822,000 
539,000 
149,000 
276,000 

1,410,000 

204,000 

14,000 

24,000 

698,000 
63,000 
578  000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Gill  nets 

336,000 

189,000 
238,000 

Crab,  eel,  and  lobster  pots  and 

121,000 
28,000 
63,000 
33,000 

35,000 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs. . 

24,000 
39,000 

43,000 
98,000 

All  other 

The  value  of  the  line  catch  formed  55  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  total  catch  for  the  state  and  was  the 
largest  shown  for  any  state,  representing  42  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  total  line  catch  of  the  United  States. 
Although  30  species  were  taken  with  lines,  48  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  product  taken  in  this  way  was  con- 
tributed by  cod.  Nearly  all  of  the  cod,  haddock,  hake, 
and  halibut  and  all  of  the  cusk  reported  were  taken  by 
lines.  The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  value 
of  the  line  catch,  by  principal  species  and  by  county 
districts: 


■VAJLVS  OF  PRODDCT  TAKEN  WITH  UNZS:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Essex 
County. 

Suffolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Total 

$3,930,000 

$1,822,000 

$1,410,000 

$698,000 

C!od 

1,876,000 

995,000 

309,000 

289,000 

250,000 

73,000 

61,000 

77,000 

1,035,000 

306,000 

229,000 

72,000 

131,000 

32,000 

2,6(» 

14,000 

631,000 
497,000 
61,000 
184,000 
54,000 
34,000 
27,000 
22,000 

310  000 

BEkddock 

193,000 
20,000 
33  000 

Halibut 

Hake 

Polla(* 

65,000 

6,700 

31,000 

40,000 

Cusk 

Flounders. . 

All  other 

The  catch  with  seines  represented  only  1 1  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  products  for  the  state,  but 
ranked  second  to  that  with  lines .  The  number  of  species 
captured  by  seines  was  31,  of  which  mackerel  contrib- 


uted 74  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  catch  by  this 
form  of  apparatus.  Essex  County  reported  67  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  the  seine  catch.  The  value  oi 
the  seine  product  caught  by  vessel  fisheries  formed 
94  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  product  taken  by 
tliis  form  of  apparatus.  The  follo\ving  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  value  of  the  principal  species  captured 
by  seines,  for  each  county  district: 


VALUE   OF 

PRODUCT  TAKEN  IN   SEINES:   1908. 

SPEaES. 

Total. 

Essex. 
County. 

Suffolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Total 

$806,000 

$539,000 

$204,000 

$63,000 

594,000 
63,000 
42,000 
33,000 
22,000 
16,000 
11,000 
20,000 

435,000 
39,000 
36,000 

2,200 
17,000 

2,200 

131,000 

16,000 

5,200 

30,000 

5,400 

28,000 

8,200 

400 

Herring . . 

Pollack 

Haddock . . 

Cod 

Alewives. ... 

14,000 

11,000 
5,100 

All  other  . 

8,500 

12  000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  ranked  tliird  in  the  value  of 
the  product  taken.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  value  of  the  catch,  by  species  and  by  county 
districts: 


SPEdEa. 

VALUE     OF 

PRODUCT    TAKEN    WITH    DBEDGES, 
TONGS,    ETC.:  1908. 

Total. 

Essex 
County. 

Suffolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Total.. 

$741,000 

$149,000 

$14,000 

$578  000 

niftTns    . 

372,000 

218,000 

120,000 

25,000 

5,000 

200 

100 

148,000 

9,600 

215,000 
218,000 
120,000 
25,000 

S(^llops 

300 
600 
200 
100 

Cockles 

4,400 

Crabs,  soft 

Mussels 

Of  the  value  of  the  product  taken  in  this  manner,  79 
per  cent  was  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
The  amount  returned  by  the  vessel  fisheries  was 
entirely  from  the  district  designated  "All  other 
counties." 

GUI  nets  took  products  valued  at  6  per  cent  of  the 
total,  87  per  cent  of  the  value  representing  that  of 
herring  and  mackerel.  The  gill-net  catch  was  reported 
principally  by  the  vessel  fisheries,  and  70  per  cent  of 
the  value  was  contributed  by  the  Essex  County  dis- 
trict. The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the 
value  of  the  gill-net  catch,  by  principal  species  and  by 
county  districts: 


VALUE  OF  PRODUCT  TAKEN  IN  GILL  NETS:  1908. 

SPEQES. 

Total. 

Essex 
County. 

Suffolk 
County. 

All  other 
counties. 

Total 

$393,000 

$276,000 

$24,000 

$94,000 

146,000 
102,000 
93,000 
38,000 
6,400 
8,800 

46,000 

102,000 

84,000 

34,000 

6,400 

3,000 

16,000 

84,000 

6,430 
1,700 

2,100 
1,600 

Cod,  fresh ... 

Pollack 

All  other...                

5,800 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


157 


Principal  species. — Table  7,  on  page  164,  gives  the 
yield  of  the  more  important  species  during  earlier 
years  for  which  complete  statistics  are  available, 
together  vdth  the  percentage  of  the  total  value  of 
products  formed  by  the  value  of  each  species.  The 
species  are  ranked  in  the  order  of  the  value  of  the  catch 
in  1908. 

Cod. — The  most  important  product  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts fisheries  was  cod,  which  contributed  28  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  in  1908.  The  state  catch  of 
cod  formed  66  per  cent  of  that  of  the  United  States. 
The  quantity  and  value  of  the  product  were  less  in 
1908  than  in  1889,  but  greater  than  for  any  other  year 
shown.  Cod  were  taken  chiefly  by  the  vessel  fisheries, 
which  reported  93  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  Fifty- 
three  per  cent  of  the  aggregate  product  was  taken  by 
the  Essex  County  fishermen.  Nearly  the  whole  prod- 
uct, 97  per  cent,  was  caught  by  lines. 

Haddock. — Haddock  ranked  second  in  value,  con- 
tributing 15  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts product.  The  Massachusetts  catch  con- 
tributed 80  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  haddock 
product  of  the  United  States  and  was  taken  almost 
wholly  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  catch  increased  in 
weight  and  value  in  the  period  from  1889  to  1905,  but 
prior  to  1902  it  was  outranked  in  value  by  halibut  and 
in  1902  by  mackerel.  Suffolk  County  had  a  larger  prod- 
uct than  Essex  County,  slightly  over  half  of  the  total 
being  taken  in  the  former  district.  About  the  same 
proportion  of  haddock  as  of  cod,  96  per  cent  of  the  total 
value,  was  taken  with  lines. 

Mackerel.. — The  catch  of  this  species,  which  stood 
third  in  value,  contributed  11  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  Massachusetts  product,  and  represented 
90  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  entire  mackerel 
product  of  the  United  States.  The  1908  catch  was 
the  smallest  since  1898,  both  in  quantity  and  value. 
In  1902  mackerel  ranked  next  to  cod.  Vessel  fisheries 
took  97  per  cent  of  the  1908  catch,  on  the  basis  of 
value,  and  of  the  value  credited  to  this  class  of  fisheries 
65  per  cent  was  reported  by  the  Essex  County  district. 
Mackerel  were  taken  mostly  with  seines,  78  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  representing  the  value  of  the  seine 
haul.  Gill  nets  took  most  of  the  remainder,  the 
catch  with  this  form  of  apparatus  representing  19  per 
cent  of  the  total  value. 

Herring. — The  value  of  the  herring  product  con- 
stituted 5  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  for 
the  state,  and  43  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  herring 
for  the  United  States,  Massachusetts  ranking  second 
to  Maine  in  this  respect.  Both  the  weight  and  the 
value  of  the  herring  catch  have  fluctuated  more  or 
less  at  the  various  canvasses,  but  the  percentage 
which  the  catch  represents  of  the  total  value  of  prod- 
ucts of  the  state  has  decreased  steadily  since  1898. 
Since  1905,  despite  a  large  increase  in  quantity,  this 
fish  has  suffered  a  substantial  decrease  in  value.     Of 


the  total  value  of  the  herring  product,  72  per  cent 
was  reported  by  the  vessel  fisheries  and  28  per  cent 
by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Essex  County  fur- 
nished 74  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  state. 
The  largest  catch  of  herring,  representing  57  per 
cent  of  the  total  value,  was  made  by  gill  nets.  The 
catch  with  seines  represented  18  per  cent  of  the  value, 
whUe  nearly  all  the  remaining  value  was  credited  to 
pound  and  trap  nets  and  to  dip  nets  in  proportions 
approximately  equal. 

Pollack. — Pollack  was  another  important  species, 
the  value  of  the  Massachusetts  catch  constituting 
over  three-fourths  of  the  value  of  the  total  pollack 
product  for  the  country.  Nearly  85  per  cent  of  the 
Massachusetts  catch  was  made  in  vessel  fisheries, 
while  more  than  one-half  of  this  total  value  came  from 
the  Essex  County  district.  In  value  and  in  relative 
importance,  pollack  has  increased  rapidly  and  uni- 
formly since  1898,  although  in  1908  the  quantity 
taken  was  considerably  less  than  in  1905.  Of  the 
total  value  of  the  pollack  product  reported  in  1908, 
80  per  cent  represented  the  value  of  the  catch  taken 
with  lines. 

Halibut. — The  haUbut  catch  showed  an  increase  in 
both  quantity  and  value  in  1908  over  1905,  but  a 
marked  falUng  off  as  compared  with  the  returns  for 
earlier  years.  In  1 889  and  1898  it  ranked  next  to  cod, 
and  not  imtil  the  canvass  of  1905  did  it  represent  less 
than  10  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  for  the 
state.  The  catch  of  this  state,  though  far  below  that 
of  Washington,  contributed  20  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  halibut  product  of  the  United  States  and 
ranked  second  in  importance.  Hahbut  was  practically 
a  vessel  fishery  product.  Only  6  per  cent  came  from 
the  southern  counties  of  Massachusetts,  74  per  cent 
being  reported  from  Essex  County.  Nearly  all  of  the 
product  was  taken  with  hues. 

Hake. — The  Massachusetts  hake  product  represented 
63  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  hake  catch  for  the 
United  States.  In  spite  of  the  great  fluctuations  in 
quantity,  the  value  has  steadily  increased  since  1889. 
It  is  preeminently  a  vessel  fishery  product.  Twenty- 
five  per  cent  of  the  total  value  was  reported  by  the 
Essex  County  district  and  63  per  cent  by  the  Suffolk 
County  district.  Practically  the  entire  catch  was  made 
by  lines. 

Catfish. — Catfish,  or  wolf  fish,  were  taken  to  the  value 
of  $8,000.  Nearly  the  entire  catch,  amounting  to 
557,000  pounds,  was  taken  with  lines.  The  vessel  fish- 
eries were  credited  with  368,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$4,400. 

Clams. — Hard,  soft,  and  razor  clams  were  reported 
by  the  Massachusetts  fisheries.  The  latter  species 
were  not  taken  in  large  quantities.  For  the  other 
two  species  the  values  of  the  product  reported  were 
nearly  the  same.  Clams  were  taken  almost  wholly 
in  shore  and  boat  fisheries.     Fifty-seven  per  cent  of 


158 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


the  total  value  of  the  state  product  was  from  the  dis- 
trict designated  as  "All  other  counties,"  Essex  County 
being  the  source  of  nearly  all  the  remainder. 

Whale  products. — The  value  of  the  whale  oil,  sperm 
oil,  and  whalebone  reported  from  Massachusetts,  about 
two-tliirds  of  which  represented  the  value  of  sperm  oil 
alone,  comprised  68  per  cent  of  the  total  reported  for 
the  United  States  in  1908.  Since  1889  the  value  of 
the  whale  products  of  the  state  has  decreased  more  or 
less  steadily,  the  year  1898  alone  showing  a  smaller 
value  than  1908.  These  products,  which  were  exclu- 
sively vessel  fishery  products,  were  taken  principally 
by  the  New  Bedford  whaUng  fleets  and  were  reported 
solely  from  the  district  "All  other  counties,"  of  which 
they  formed  the  leading  product. 

Lobster. — In  the  catch  of  lobster  Massachusetts  was 
second  to  Maine.  The  large  increase  in  quantity  and 
value  in  1908, as  compared  with  1905  is  worthy  of 
note,  compared  with  the  gradual  decrease  in  quantity 
and  sliglit  increase  in  value  shown  for  prior  canvasses. 
Over  95  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  lobster 


product  represented  the  value  of  lobster  taken  in 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Fifty  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  was  contributed  by  counties  included  under  the 
head"  All  other  counties,"  while  39  percent  represented 
the  value  of  the  Essex  County  product. 

Oysters. — Though  taken  in  quantities  suflicient  to 
class  them  among  the  more  important  products  of  the 
Massachusetts  fisheries,  oysters  were  of  far  less  import- 
ance than  in  states  to  the  south.  The  quantity  taken 
has  increased  steadily,  but  the  value  of  the  product 
has  fluctuated  greatly.  Private  beds  furnished  96  per 
cent  of  the  entire  quantity.  Of  the  total  value  of  the 
oyster  product,  45  per  cent  represented  the  value  of 
the  oysters  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries,  and  55  per 
cent  the  value  of  those  taken  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  entire  product  came  from  the  southern 
counties.  Forty  thousand  bushels  of  oysters,  valued 
at  S47,000,were  taken  by  Connecticut  fishermen  from 
waters  of  Massachusetts,  but  are  included  in  the  sta- 
tistics for  Connecticut. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1  .—MASSACHUSETTS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


159 


TOT.tL. 

PRODUCT  C.\UGnT   BY— 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

Seines.' 

0111  nets. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

244,313,000 

J7, 095,000 

161,888.000 

$3,930,000 

25,397,000 

JSOO,000 

14,886,000 

8393,000 

18,641,000 

$266,000 

23,503,000 

$1,701,000 

Fish: 

Albacore,  or  horse  mack- 
erel  

92,000 
4,002,000 
42,000 
65,000 
67,000 

72,819,000 
102,000 

4,267,000 
722,000 

7,124,000 

48,492,000 

16,708,000 

4,145,000 

28,501,000 

73,000 

10,453,000 

258,000 

19,000 

20,006,000 

303,000 

1,136.000 

114,000 

389,000 

5,589,000 

3.500 

93,000 

16,000 

1.971,000 

5.100 

5,300 

1,642,000 

170,000 

7,000 

604,000 

737,000 

605.000 

73,000 

121,000 

1,800 

2,453,000 

5.800 

1,300 

•1,119,000 

'24,000 

« 1,916,000 

'130,000 
"1,100 

•4,900 

"'863,000 

"43,000 

"173,000 

i«  502, 000 
1,837,000 
30,000 
"138,000 
"2,913,000 
'•553,000 

5,400 
46,000 
4,300 
4,000 
3,500 

1,955,000 

5,600 

73.000 

32.000 

146,000 

1,038.000 
294,000 
310,000 
342,000 

1,300 

761,000 

1,400 

1,000 

313,000 
2,700 
40,000 
8,400 

12,000 

39,000 

600 

700 

2,600 

58,000 

800 

500 

122,000 

0,300 

200 

8,400 

25,000 

6,900 

3,100 

2,400 

200 

307.000 

1.300 

(") 

189.000 

3,000 

186,000 

34,000 
100 

900 

202,000 

3,100 

12,000  ; 

120.000 
20.000 
89,000 
6.900 

218.000 
28.000 

92,000 
1,062,000 
15,000 
65,000 
67,000 

288,000 
2,300 

5,400 
7,000 
1,100 
3,900 
2,800 

8,200 
100 

i 

Alewives 

1,693,000 
6,200 

16,000 
600 

25,000 
9,300 

400 
1,400 

1,292,000 

20,000 

Bluefish 

ii,666 

200 
300 

69,191,000 

600 

4,207,000 

118.000 

3,105,000 

46,649,000 
16,192,000 
4,136,000 

1,200 
(•) 
(•) 

1,876,000 
(•) 

73,000 
5,800 
61,000 

995,000 
289,000 
309,000 

Bonito 

Butterflsh 

7,400 
1, £90,000 

600 
33,000 

3,200 
1,750,000 

100 
38,000 

Cod 

99,000 

Cusk 

Eels 

164,000 
342,000 

1,430,000 

67,000 

9,000 

7,554,000 

700 
5,700 

33,000 
1,000 
1,000 

63,000 

47,000 
616,000 

303,000 
407,000 

1,000 
12,000 

8,600 
3,500 

403,000 
2,950,000 

25,000 
66.000 

Flni»rder? 

111,000 

104,000 
43,000 

2,600 

1,300 
600 

Haddock 

Hake 

Halibut 

9,930,000 

196,000 

5,636,000 

44.000 

6,476,000 

40,000 

Ling 

73,000 
66,000 

1,300 
3,200 

8,006.000 

253,000 

19,000 

3.816.000 
200 
800 

694,000 
1,300 
1,000 

42,000 

2,147,000 

146,000 

233,000 
6,000 

18,000 
200 

600 

(•) 

Perch,  yellow 

Pollack 

14,608,000 

300,000 

329,000 

77,000 

250,000 
2,700 
12,000 
6,700 

506,000 
3,200 
13,000 

6,400 
(•) 
400 

957,000 

16,000 

Redflsh,  or  roseflsh 

Scup 

793,000 
37,000 

20,000 
4,540,000 

27,000 
2,700 

700 
29,000 

Sea  bass 

Shad 

367,000 
4,000 
3,600 
12,000 

3,200 
1,000 

11,000 

(•) 

600 
100 

300 

{•) 

2,000 
125,000 

100 
1,300 

Silver  hake,  or  whitmg. . . 

921,000 

8,300 

Bilversides. 

Skates 

37,000 

13,000 
92,000 
2,900 

300 

2,200 

2,000 

300 

5,000 

100 

14,000 

200 

25,000 

100 

Smelt 

Squeteaeue,  or  weakflsh. . 
Striped  Dass 

30,000 

400 

1,848,000 

200 

5,100 

56,000 
(■) 
600 

2,000 

500 

Sturgeon 

200 

(») 

Swordfish 

1,642,000 

122,000 

Tautog 

149.000 

6,000 

553,000 

5,600 

lOO 

7,800 

21,000 

700 

Tomeod 

2,000 
33,000 

ioo 

400 

All  other 

9,100 

100 

8,000 

100 

500 
737,000 

(») 
25,000 

Irish  moss 

Livers 

001,000 
73,000 

6,800 
3,100 

4,000 

(') 

Sounds 

Crabs,  hard 

121,000 
1,800 

2,455,000 

400 

1,200 

<1, 119,000 

'24,000 

"1,916,000 

'130,000 
» 1,100 

'4,900 

"•863,000 

"  43,000 

"173,000 

i»  502. 000 
25.000 
30,000 

2  400 

Crabs,  soft 

Lobster 

200 

C) 

307,000 

Shrimp 

5,400 

1,200 

Turtles 

100 

(•) 

(') 

189,000 
3,600 

Clams,  hard 

Clams,  razor 

Clams,  soft 

Cockles 

34,000 
100 

Mussels 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 
areas 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

202,000 

3,100 

12,000 

120,000 

Oysters,    seed,   from   public 
areas 

areas 

Scallops 

Bguid 

121,000 

2,200 

10,000 

200 

1,680,000 

17,000 

Whalebone 

89,000 

OU,cod 

"138,000 

5,900 

Oil,  sperm 

« 2. 913. 000 
"653,000 

218,000 
28,000 

Oil,  whale 

>  Includes  otter  trawls. 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows;  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  5,363,000  pounds,  valued  at  $741,000;  whaling  apparatus,  3,495,000  pounds,  valued  at  $336,000;  eel 
pots  and  traps,  2, 8'i0,000  pounds,  valued  at  $325,000;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  1,767,000  pounds,  valued  at  $130,000;  beam  trawls,  2,972,000  pounds,  valued  at  $66,000;  dip 
nets,  6,660,000  pounds,  valued  at  $68,000;  cockle  nets  and  traps,  78,000  pounds,  valued  at  $21,000;  cunner  nets  and  traps,  100,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,500;  fyke  nets, 
52,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,200;  cast  nets,  109,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,000;  bag  nets,  2,000  poimds,  valued  at  $500;  and  minor  apparatus,  75,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000. 

•  Less  than  $100.  '  2,400  bushels.  '  13,000  bushels.  »  700  bushels.  "  6,200  bushels.  "  03,000  gallons.  "  388,000  gallons. 

<  140,000  bushels.  '  192  000  bushels.  "100  bushels.  '•  123,000  bushels.  '2  26,000  bushels.  "  18,000  gallons.  "  74  000  gallons. 


160 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Table  2.— MASSACHUSETTS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS,  BY  COUNTY  DISTRICTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

ESSEX  COUNTY. 

SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

ALL  OTHEE 

COUNTIES. 

SPECIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

1 
Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

244,313,000 

$7,095,000 

106,007,000 

$3,030,000 

76,030,000 

$1,749,000 

62,276,000 

$2,316,000 

Fish     

230,066,000 
72.819.000 
48,492,000 
10,453,000 
28,501,000 
20,006,000 

4,145,000 
16,708,000 
7,124,000 
1,642,000 

4,267,000 
1,971,000 
4,062,000 
1,136,000 

5,589,000 
722,000 
389,000 
114,000 

170,000 
102,000 
92,000 
42,000 

65,000 

67,000 

303,000 

16,000 

258,000 
73,000 
19,000 

717,000 

'3,060,000 
3,495,000 

4  2,913,000 

30,000 

'553,000 

2,455,000 
1,084,000 
•868,000 
'216,000 

'502,000 
•130,000 

737,000 
1,837,000 

605,000 

"138,000 

73,000 

122,000 

5,800 

2.4Q0 

5,637,000 

1,955,000 

1,038,000 

761,000 

342,000 

313,000 

310,000 
294,000 
146,000 
122,000 

73,000 
58,000 
45,000 
40,000 

39,000 
32,000 
12,000 
8,400 

6,300 
5,600 
5,400 
4,300 

4,000 
3,500 
2,700 
2,500 

1,400 
1,300 
1,000 
11,000 

378,000 

336,000 

218,000 

89,000 

28,000 

307,000 

218,000 

203,000 

15,000 

120,000 
34,000 
25,000 
20,000 
6,900 

5,900 
3,100 
2,600 
1,300 
100 

103,005,000 
38,339,000 
14,770,000 
6,475,000 
17,342,000 
12,474,000 

3,230,000 

4,356,000 

338,000 

795,000 

1,845,000 

2,7.36,000 
1,087,000 
309,000 
483,000 
252,000 
175,000 

229,000 

74,000 

4,300 

61,000 

32,000 

75,117,000 

22,991,000 

24,511,000 

2,017,000 

6,441,000 

3,278,000 

682,000 

10, 254, 000 

1,394,000 

270,000 

2,029,000 

1,680,000 

549,000 

527,000 

147,000 

47,000 

59,000 

62,000 
185,000 
29,000 
24,000 

34,000 

51,944.000 
11,489,000 
9,211,000 
1,961,000 
4,718,000 
4,255,000 

233,000 
2,098,000 
5,391,000 

577,000 

393,000 
1,971,000 
3,520,000 
1,133,000 

3,374,000 
429,000 
72,000 
114,000 

169,000 

1,221,000 

Cod                    

319,000 

Haddock                                                              

202,000 
131,000 

43,000 
78,000 

20,000 

Pollack            - 

Halibut    

Hake 

36,000 

Flounders             

113,000 

37,000 

6,700 

68,000 
41,000 
40,000 

28,000 
23,000 

542,000 
3,000 

1,503,000 
202,000 
308,000 
(') 

800 

73,000 

8,800 

900 

200 

5,000 

162,000 

10,000 

3,300 

3,300 
100 

4,000 
3,600 
7,900 
(') 

(■) 
4,000 
300 
100 

(') 
200 
1.600 
1,800 

m 

Silver  bake,  or  whiting             

712,000 
91,000 
10,000 

7,100 

5,500 

300 

Eels        

Shad                                      

3,300 

8,400 

6,300 

29,000 

1,600 

83,000 
41,000 

65,000 

56,000 

2,000 

5,000 

255,000 
73,000 
19,000 

239,000 

'1,407,000 
3,495,000 

4  2,913,000 

30,000 

5  553,000 

1,324,000 
1,084,000 
'868,000 
'216,000 

'502,000 

»21,000 

730,000 

1,705,000 

12,000 

I"  46, 000 

5,100 

Bluefi* 

4,200 
4,000 

6,900 

139,000 

500 

600 

1,100 

100 

2,700 

(») 

700 

1,400 
1,300 

Ling 

1,000 
5,500 

All  other     

219,000 
1,529,000 

3,200 
153,000 

260,000 
124,000 

2,400 
9,600 

Clams  ...          

215,000 

336,000 

218,000 

89,000 

28,000 

Lobster           .                              

914,000 

120,000 

217,000 

33,000 
i          

154,000 

218,000 

Market                               

203,000 

Seed 

15,000 

120,000 

Cockles 

41,000 

7,500 

132,000 

283,000 

79,000 
8,800 
6,300 

11,000 

300 

2,400 

3,300 

3,400 
600 
200 

69,000 

17,000 

6,100 

25,000 

Squid 

17,000 

310,000 

13,000 
64,000 
116,000 

3,400 

600 
2,e)00 
2,300 

100 

2,000 

Sounds 

Crabs  

400 
5,800 

(') 

1,300 

AUother 

2,400 

100 

1  Less  than  100  pounds. 
>  Less  than  $100. 


'  34,000  bushels. 
4  388,000  gaUons. 


5  74,000  gaUons. 
•  124,000  bushels. 


'  31,000  bushels. 
•  63,000  gaUons. 


» 13,000  bushels. 
!•  18,000  gallons. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— MASSACHUSETTS— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


161 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUQHT    BY— 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

Seines.' 

0111  nets. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

All  other  apparatus.* 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

193,839,000 

»5,497,000 

149,523,000 

»3 ,649,000 

20,124,000 

$754,000 

14,685,000 

$384,000 

1,403,000 

$30,000 

8,204,000 

$680,000 

Fish: 

829,000 
24,000 
35,000 
29,000 

48, 124, 000 

19,566,000 

4,145,000 

61,000 

66,000 

3,  -102, 000 
45, 294, 000 

973,  (XK) 
15,521,000 

230,000 

3,470,000 

643,000 

13,000 

10,078,000 

6,616,000 

7,967,000 

2,231,000 

253,000 

5,000 

15,144,000 

920,000 

293,000 

308,000 

47,000 

371,000 
578,000 
74,000 
160,000 

2,100 

1,625,000 

24,000 

408,000 

590,000 

73,000 

123,000 

1,300 

< 85, 000 
'10,000 

•18,000 

'2,100 

8  449,000 
•18,000 
'<152,000 

172,000 

30,000 

"138,000 

«  2, 913, 000 

'8  653,000 

9,600 

2,700 
2,300 
1,800 

1,183,000 

640, 000 

71,000 

1,300 

2,500 

06,000 
906,000 

21,000 

270,  OIX) 

4,S0O 

2,55, 000 

53,000 

500 

138.  OIX) 

106,000 

580,000 

161,000 

1,300 

200 

244,000 
21,000 
2,600 
11,000 
3,500 

9,800 

4,400 

500 

5,900 

200 

121,000 

900 

4,700 

6,700 
3,100 
14,000 
(') 

13,000 
800 

4,300 

400 

96,000 

1,000 

44,000 

2,500 
89,000 

5,900 
218,000 
28,000 

779,000 
6,200 

9,000 
600 

25,000 
9,300 

400 

1,400 

24,000 

2,800 
35,  OIX) 
18,000 

19,000 

100 

200 
2,300 
1,100 

600 

Blueflsh 

6,000 
200 
300 

45,  .382, 000 

19,565,000 

4,145,000 

M,  0(X) 

11,000 

818,000 
43,875,000 

973,000 
15,412,000 

230,000 

3,400,000 

643,000 

13,000 

566 
(') 

1,12,3,000 

640,000 

71,000 

1,300 

200 

10,000 
932,000 

21,000 

275,  (X)0 

4,800 

254,000 

63,000 

600 

Butterfish 

7,400 
1,073,000 

600 
25,000 

3,200 
1-,  650, 000 

100 
35,000 

Cod ,  fresh             .           

Eels      

4,000 

327,000 
1,302,000 

200 

5,500 
31,000 

40,000 
2,141,000 

2,100 
48,000 

Flounders 

55,000 
104,000 

1,100 
1,300 

61,000 
13,000 

1,200 
400 

Haddock  salted 

67,000 

1,000 

38,000 

400 

6,000 

100 

Hake,  salted 

Halibut,  fresh 

9,600 

1,000 

Halibut  fins,  salted 

5,  i  59, 666 
316,000 

6,775,000 

2,231,000 

263,000 

43,000 
4,500 

432,000 

161,000 

1,,300 

4,  .593, 000 
6,271,000 

2,104,000 

92,000 
102,000 

142,000 

326,000 

3,100 

Herring,  salted 

60,000 

2,900 

28,000 

2,600 

5,000 
138,000 

200 
2,400 

Pollack,  fresh 

12,080,000 

920,000 

290,000 

166,000 

36,000 

206,000 

21,000 

2,600 

6,000 

2,600 

2,37.3,000 

29,000 

647,000 

6,100 

Redfish,  or  rosefish 

200 
800 

{•) 
(•) 

^'^400 

13,000 

128,000 
12,000 

16,000 
318,000 

4,700 
900 

600 
2,600 

Shad 

352,000 
4,000 
12,000 

9,100 
(•) 
100 

2,000 
125,000 

100 
1,300 

, 

Silver  hake,  or  whiting 

131,000 
37,000 
10,000 

2,100 

500 
300 
400 

200 



25,000 

100 

Bqueteague,  or  weakflsh 

Striped  bass 

30,000 

400 

110,000 

5,100 

1,625,000 

121,000 

Tautog 

24,000 
364,000 

580,000 
73,000 

90O 
4,100 

6,600 
3,100 

Another 

32,000 

400 

9,200 
4,000 

100 

(») 

2,200 

200 

Livers 

Lobster 

123,000 
1,200 

•85,000 
•10,000 

•18,000 

'2,100 

8  449,000 

•18,000 

10  152,000 

20,000 
30,000 

14,000 

(») 

13,000 

100 

(") 

Clams,  hard 

clams,  soft 

800 

C«ckles 



4,300 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 
areas 

400 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

96,000 

1,000 

44,000 

400 

Oyster.s,  seed,  from  private  areas . 
Scallops 

10,000 

200 

142,000 

2,000 

Whalebone 

89,000 

Oil, cod 

"138,000 

5,900 



Oil,  sperm    

n  2, 913, 000 
'«  553, 000 

218,000 
28,000 

'  Includes  otter  trawls. 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Whaling  apparatus,  3.495,000  pounds,  valued  at  $336,000;  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  716,000  pounds,  valued  at  $155,000;  harpoons, 
spears,  etc.,  1,656,000  pounds,  valued  at  $122,000;  beam  trawls,  2,166,000  pounds,  valued  at  $48,000;  eel  pots,  163,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  cockle  nets  and  traps,  18,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $4,300;  and  fvke  nets,  1,200  pounds,  valued  at  $100. 

8  Less  than  $100.  "  •  1 .800  bushels.  •  64,000  bushels.  '« 19,000  gallons.  '2  388,000  gallons. 

<  1 1 ,000  bushels.  '  300  bushels.  •  2,600  bushels.  "  18,000  gallons.  >8  74,000  gallons. 

s  1,000  bushels. 

76786°— 11 11 


162 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  4.— MASSACHUSETTS— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PKODDCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPBCIS3. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Dip  nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Ail  otherappanitus.i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

50,474,000 

Jl, 698, 000 

12,365,000 

$281,000 

17,238,000 

$236,000 

6,660,000 

$58,000 

5,272.000 

$51,000 

300,000 

$9,000 

8,638,000 

$962,000 

Pish: 

Albacore,     or     horse 

91,000 

2.209,000 

1,024,000 

17,000 

30,000 

39.000 

5,024.000 

106,000 

102.000 

68,000 

667,000 
3,722,000 
2,225,000 

957,000 
19,000 

12,734,000 

73,000 

73,000 

255,000 

1,300 

19,000 

3,942,000 

828,000 

67,000 

19,000 

5,011,000 
3,500 
19,000 

16,000 

1,821,000 
3,000 
4,700 

17,000 

146,000 

7,000 

206,000 

737,000 

15,000 

121,000 

1,800 

2,332,000 

6,800 

n, 034, 000 

< 24,000 

'1,906,000 

•112,000 

'1,100 

»2,800 

•414,000 

"43,000 

"  156,000 
« 349, 000 
1,665,000 

5,400 
20,000 
15,000 
1,000 
1,700 

1,800 

129,000 

4,300 

5,600 

900 

30,000 
81,000 
52,000 
13,000 
1,700 

96,000 

700 

1,300 

19,000 

100 

1,000 

48,000 

28.000 

5,000 

1,700 

35,000 
600 
200 

2,500 

62,000 
600 
400 

900 
5,400 

200 
3,700 

25,000 

200 

2,400 

200 

294,000 

1,300 
177,000 

3,600 
185,000 
29,000 

100 

500 

106,000 

3,100 

11,000 
70,000 
17,000 

91,000 

902.000 

125,000 

12,000 

30,000 

39,000 
268,000 

5,400 
6,000 
1,300 
900 
1,700 

1,800 
7,000 

693,000 
490,000 

9,300 
9,000 

589,000 
325,000 

4,000 
3,400 

25,000 
84,000 

300 

1  700 

5,200 

.      600 

Benito 

Butterfisli 



4,138.000 

106,000 

600 

68,000 

107,000 
2,287,000 
1,801,000 

550,000 
19,000 

109,000 
4,300 
(») 
900 

5,700 

51,000 

42,000 

9,400 

1,700 

. 

517,000 

8,900 

100,000 

2,800 

Cod  salted 



2,300 

100 

99,000 

5,500 

Cusk 

Eels 

47.000 
555,000 
290,000 
402,000 

1,000 
11,000 
8,300 
3,400 

150,000 

16,000 

134,000 

200 

500 

200 

1.800 

363,000 
809,000 

23,000 

66.000 

1,500 

18.000 

Haddock 

Hake            

5,000 

100 

Halibut 

5,151,000 
60,000 

41,000 
500 

5,402,000 

40,000 

2,049,000 

15,000 

59.000 
13,000 

000 
200 

14,000 

100 

Herring,  salted 

Ling 

73,000 
5,400 

900 

1,300 
300 

100 

205,000 

16,000 

600 

(") 

200 

400 

19,000 

1,443,000 

(») 

m 

1,000 
12,000 

44,000 

3,500 

Pollack 

1,662,000 
162,000 
41,000 

23,000 
6,200 
3,200 

819,000 
665,000 
26,000 

3,600 

4,221,000 

13,000 

22,000 

1,800 

100 

27,000 

18,000 

300 

Bhad 

15,000 

1,700 

Silver  hake,  or  whit- 

790,000 

7,800 

3,600 

(iOO 

f^kntix; 

14,000 

200 

5,000 

100 

Smelt 

13,000 

81,000 
800 

2,200 

1.600 
(') 

3,200 
1,000 

300 

(') 

Squeteague,  or  weak- 

1,739,000 

200 

4,700 

51,000 

m 

400 

2,000 

500 

Swordflsh 

17,000 

900 

126,000 

5.000 

197,000 

4,000 

100 

3,600 

21,000 

700 

2.000 
300 

100 

(') 

All  nt.hpr 

7,800 

(') 

600 
737,000 

C) 

25,000 

16,000 

200 

15,000 

200 

106.000 

1,800 

2,332,000 

2,300 

200 

Ix>bster 

20.3 

m 

294,000 

Shrimp 

400 

100 

5.400 

1.200 

3i,o,'i4,oai 

< 24,000 
51,906,000 
8  112.000 

'1,100 

8  2,800 

»  414, 000 

w  43,000 

"156.000 

"349,000 

6,700 

177.000 

3.000 

185.000 

Cockles 

29,000 

100 

Oysters,     market,     from 

500 

Oysters,     market,     from 

106,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 

3.100 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 

11.000 

76.000 

Squid 

121.000 

2,200 

1,638,000 

15,000 

1 

100 

1 

1 

'  Includes  apparatus,  witli  catcli,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  4,647,000  pounds,  valued  at  S.580,000;  eel  pots,  2,678,000  pounds,  valued  at  $310,000:  cockle 
nets  and  traps,  60,000  pounds,  valued  at  $17,000:  beam  trawls,  727,000  pounds,  valued  at  $16,000:  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  111,000   pounds,  valued  at   $7,800;  cunner 

nets  and  traps,  100,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,500:  fyke  nets,  50,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,100:  east  nets,  109,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,000:  flounder  dredges,  80,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $2,000;  bag  nets,  2,000  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  and  minor  apparatus,  75,000  pounds,  valued  at  514.000. 

«  Less  than  $100.                           '  191 ,000  bushels.                             '  100  bushels.                                   »  59.000  bushels.  "  22,000  bushels 

» 129,000  bushels.                           « 11,000  busliels.                               «  400  bushels.                                  »  6,200  bushels.  u  44,000  gallons. 

« 2,400  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  6.— MASSACHUSETTS— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES,  BY  COUNTY  DISTRICTS:  1908. 


163 


'  Less  than  SIOO. 
2  388,000  gallons. 
»  74,000  gaUons. 


<  64,000  bushels. 

•  2,500  bu-shels. 

•  19,000  gaUons. 


'  12,000  bushels. 

•  18,000  gallons. 

•  1,800  bushels. 


TOTAL. 

ESSEX  COONTY. 

SUFfOLK  COUNTY. 

ALL  OTHEE 

COITNTIES. 

SPEaES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
j    (pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

193,839,000 

$5,497,000 

i      91,l(i0.000 

12,604,000 

67,209,000 

$1,683,000 

35,411,000 

$1,310,000 

Fish 

188,612,000 
67,689,000 
46,268,000 
10,198,000 
4,126,000 
15,751,000 

16,064,000 
15,094.000 
1,025,000 
4,209,000 
3,402,000 

308.000 
371,000 
829,000 
150,000 

578.000 
47,000 
24,000 

293.000 
55,000 

35,000 

29,000 

258.000 

508,000 

3,495,000 

2  2,913,000 

30.000 

'553.000 

408,000 
< 451.000 
6  18,000 

•152,000 
123,000 
'95,000 
590,000 

8  138,000 

»  18,000 

73,000 

172,000 

1,300 

4,971,000 
1,822,000 
985,000 
742,000 
309,000 
281,000 

205,000 
245,000 
121,000 
72.000 
06.000 

11.000 
9,800 
9.  GOO 
6,900 

4,400 
3,600 
2,700 
2,000 
2,500 

2,300 
1,800 
1,400 
6,400 

336,000 

218,000 

89.000 

28,000 

97.000 

96,000 

1,000 

44,000 
14,000 
14,000 
6,700 
5,900 

4,300 
3,100 
2,500 
(') 

90,741,000 
36,262,000 
14,317,000 
6,440,000 
3,230,000 
3,999,000 

9,914.000 

13,075.000 

788.000 

1,801.000 

137,000 

2,800 
304.000 
25,000 

2,  .595, 000 

1,041,000 

300,000 

481,000 

229,000 

71,000 

152,000 

216,000 

60,000 

32,000 

1,000 

100 

7,800 

200 

66,864,000 
21,926,000 
24,216,000 
2,017,000 
682,000 
10.254,000 

3,081,000 
1, .585, 000 

270,000 
2,029,000 

387,000 

1,672,000 
621,000 
620,000 
147,000 
62,000 
186,000 

57,000 
10,000 
24,000 
34,000 
3,500 

30,907,000 
9,501,000 
7,734,000 
1,735,000 
213,000 
1,498,000 

3,009,000 

1,034,000 

507,000 

379,000 

2,878,000 

305.000 

50,000 

804,000 

150,000 

430.000 
47,000 
24,000 
2,000 
54,000 

35.000 
20,000 
255,000 
116,000 

3,495,000 

2  2,913,000 

30,000 

•563,000 

468,000 
M61,000 
•18,000 

•162,000 
115,000 
'95,000 

804,000 

Cod 

260,000 

Haddock 

166,000 

114,000 

Halibut 

18,000 

Hake       .                     

25,000 

Pollack 

57,000 

12,000 

37,000 

Cusk                                                                          .  . 

6,400 

61,000 

11,000 

Shad          

10,000 

300 

1,700 

9,400 

5,900 

Bflvr  baVp    or  whitinf^ 

148,000 

000 

3,800 

3,500 

Bluefish 

500 

152,000 

600 

(') 

1,500 
C) 

2,700 

Redfish,  or  rosefish .      ...             .          

139,000 

1,100 

(') 

Eels 

2,500 

Bonito 

2,300 

Butterflsh  .      .  .          

1,400 

3.300 

133,000 

100 

(') 

1,600 

6,900 

600 

1,100 

1,400 

Another 

259,000 

2,400 

2,400 

336,000 

218,000 

89,000 

28,000 

Oysters                                                                       .... 

97,000 

Market 

96,000 

Seed                                                                    ... 

1,000 

Scallops 



44,000 
12,000 
14,000 

8,600 

1,200 

Clams                  ....           ... 

280,000 
79,000 

3.300 
3,400 

310,000 
13,000 

•18,000 
64,000 

3,400 
000 

4,300 
2,600 

Oil,  cod                                  ...         .      .         ... 

46,000 

2,000 

Cockles                                         

8,800 

41,000 

1,300 

600 
800 

Squid 

131,000 

1,800 

All  other 

164  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— MASSACHUSETTS— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES,  BY  COUNTY  DISTRICTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

ESSEX  COUNTY. 

SUFFOLK  COUNTY. 

ALL  OTHEE 

CXJUNTIES. 

SPECIK3. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(l)Ounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

60,474,000 

tl, 598, 000 

14,847,000 

$426,000 

8,761,000 

$166,000 

_26,866.000 

$1,006,000 

Fish                      

41,654,000 
6,130,000 

12,807,000 
3,722,000 
2,225.000 
1,821,000 

3,942,000 

3,233,000 

5,011,000 

667,000 

828,000 

255,000 
957,000 
102,000 
146,000 
91,000 

67,000 
16,000 
39,000 
19,000 
19,000 

30,000 
17,000 
73,000 
19,000 
319,000 

•2,965,000 

2,332,000 

616,000 

< 417, 000 

'199,000 

5349,000 

'112,000 

737,000 

1,665,000 

123,000 

5,800 

16,000 

666,000 
133,000 
97,000 
81,000 
52.000 
52,000 

48,000 
35,000 
35,000 
30,000 
28,000 

19,000 
13,000  ' 
6,600 
6,400 
5,400 

6,000 
2,500 
1,800 
1,700 
1,700 

1,700 
1,600 
1,300 
1.000 
7,600 

365,000 
294,000 
121,000 
107,000 
14,000 

76,000 

29,000 

25,000 

17,000 

2,600 

1,300 

200 

12,264,000 

2,076,000 

4,267,000 

201.000 

453,000 

141,000 

46.000 

36.000 

3,300 

9.100 

8,2,53,000 
1,065,000 
4,866.000 
1.007.000 
295.000 

108,000 
28,000 
30,000 
35,000 
7,400 

21,037.000 
1,988,000 
3,684,000 
2,513,000 
1.477.000 
1,821,000 

1,185,000 

2,710.000 

2,944,000 

374,000 

827,000 

227,000 
600,000 

417,000 

Cod 

59,000 

Herring  _ 

31,000 

52,000 

Haddock      

36,000 

52,000 

Pollack 

2,560,000 
517,000 

1,355.000 

202.000 

200 

28,000 

367,000 

73,000 

800 

8,800 

10,000 
3,600 
3,300 

24,000 
3,100 
3,400 
3,600 

(■) 

2,300 
2.400 
4,000 

«3<» 

(') 
1,800 
200 
100 

197.000 

2,700 

21.000 

32.000 

712,000 
91,000 

7,100 
5,500 

24,000 

21,000 

28,000 

Mackerel 

17,000 

Hake                             '. 

11,000 

29,000 

1,600 

145,000 
82,000 

67,000 
5.000 
35,000 
16,000 
19,000 

30,000 
17,000 
73,000 
19,000 
173,000 

8  1,312,000 

1,210,000 

616.000 

1417,000 

'199,000 

•349,000 

'21,000 

730,000 

1,674,000 

400 

5,800 

12,000 

5,400 

6,100 

5,000 

Smelt           

500 

100 

700 

1,600 

Shad 

1,700 

TTftlibiit 

1,700 

200 
400 

^'l 

1,700 

Blupfish 

1,600 

1,300 

1,000 

147,000 

1,529.000 
905,000 

2,700 

1.53,000 
118,000 

400 

124,000 
217,000 

0) 

9,600 
33,000 

4,900 

202,000 

142,000 

121,000 

107,000 

Seed 

14,000 

76,000 

41,000 
7,500 

91,000 
6,300 

11,000 

300 

1,600 

200 

51,000 

13,000 

6,100 

26,000 

16,000 

116,000 

2,300 

(') 

1,300 

All  otnpr                                                                                            

4,300 

100 

100 

1  Less  than  $100.  »  Less  than  100  pounds.  «  371,000  bushels.  *  60,000  bushels.  28,000  bushels.  « 44,000  gallons.  '  11,000  gallons. 

Table  7.— MASSACHUSETTS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1889,  1898,  1902,  1905,  AND  1908. 


1908 

1905 

1902 

189S 

1889 

PER    CENT    DISTIUBimON     OF 
VALUE. 

SPECilfiS. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value, 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1889 

Total 

244,313,000 

$7,096,000 

255,654,000 

$7,026,000 

230,646,000 

$6,482,000 

202,258,000 

$4,464,000 

299,218,000 

$5,868,000 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

Cod 

72,819,000 
48,492,000 
10,453,000 
13,060,000 

28,501,000 
20,006,000 
4,145,000 
2,465,000 

16,708,000 

23,466,000 
•  1,084,000 
33,123,000 

1,965,000 

1,038,000 

761,000 

378,000 

342,000 
313.000 
310,000 
307,000 

294,000 

247,000 
218,000 
932,000 

62,263,000 

67,054,000 

14,104,000 

3,548,000 

18,364,000 

25,486,000 

3,613.000 

1,283,000 

20,701,000 

3,934,000 

996,000 

34,409,000 

1,689,000 

1,069,000 

966,000 

600,000 

382,000 
268,000 
218,000 
176,000 

258,000 

247,000 

222,000 

1,030,000 

69,521.000 

39,220,000 

17,624,000 

3,134,000 

29,235.000 

12,176.000 

12,1.56.000 

1,696,000 

14,358,000 

5,137,000 

724,000 

25,666,000 

1,773,000 
802.000 
981,000 
288,000 

401,000 
118.000 
649.000 
175,000 

191,000 

293,000 
134,000 
677,000 

71,315,000 

35,582,000 

6,703,000 

1,981,000 

22,363,000 
7,084,000 

10.623,000 
1,694,000 

21,332,000 

3,119,000 

709.000 

19,852,000 

1,407,000 
420,000 
362,000 
153,000 

333,000 
43.000 
547.000 
148,000 

164,000 

199,000 
156.000 
532,000 

76,342,000 
35,305,000 
6.687,000 
2,654,000 

9.931,000 
5,069,000 
9.888,000 
3,354,000 

6,3,54,000 

6,172,000 

2.59,000 

137,203,000 

2,013,000 
602,000 
,585.000 
150,000 

91,000 
65.000 
661.000 
148,000 

68,000 

489,000 
66.000 
931,000 

28 

15 
11 
5 

5 
4 
4 
4 

4 

3 
3 
13 

24 
16 
14 

7 

4 
3 
3 

4 

4 
3 
15 

27 
12 
15 
4 

6 
2 
10 
3 

3 

2 
10 

32 
9 
8 
3 

1 
12 
3 

4 

4 
12 

34 

Haddock 

Mackerel 

Clams 

10 
10 
2 

Herring 

Pollack 

Halibut 

Lobster 

Hake 

2 
1 

11 
3 

1 

Oil,  whale  and 

sperm 

Oysters 

All  other 

8 
1 
16 

1 382,000  bushels. 


'  46,000  gallons. 


>  165,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


165 


MICHIGAN. 

Micliigan  is  foremost  among  the  Great  Lakes  states 
in  value  of  fishery  products.  All  the  lakes,  with  the 
exception  of  Lake  Ontario,  touch  upon  the  state,  but 
Lakes  Michigan  and  Huron  contributed  the  larger 
percentage  of  the  state  yield. 

The  following  statement  presents  a  summary  of 
the  chief  statistics  for  the  fisheries  of  Michigan  in  1908 : 

Number  of  persons  employed 3,472 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $594, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 821, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 599, 000 

Value  of  products 1,  473,  000 

Comfanson  with  previous  canvasses. — Since  1890  a 
considerable  increase  is  manifest  in  the  quantity  and 
value  of  products.  No  statistics  of  comparative 
value  are  at  hand  for  Michigan  for  years  previous  to 
1890.  With  regard  to  the  Great  Lakes  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  stated,  as  a  result  of  the  investigation  of 
1885,  that,  ' '  considered  as  a  whole,  the  fisheries  were 
more  prolific  in  1885  than  they  had  ever  previously 
been." 

The  statistics  for  the  fisheries  of  the  Great  Lakes 
district  in  1885  are,  on  the  whole,  very  similar  to  those 
of  1 890  and  show  figures  very  much  in  excess  of  those 
for  1880.  Since  signs  of  growth  appear  in  the  early 
statistics  of  the  fisheries  of  this  region,  it  may  be 


inferred  that  the  increase  during  tlie  past  18  years 
indicates  a  movement  extending  over  a  much  longer 
period.  Reasons  for  this  increase,  as  suggested  in 
1885,  include  the  increase  in  the  number  of  persons 
engaged  in  the  work,  the  use  of  a  larger  number  of 
nets  and  other  apparatus  of  capture,  and  more  exten- 
sive artificial  propagation.  In  addition  to  these 
forces,  all  of  which  were  active  in  1885,  favorable 
legislation  has  fostered  the  growth  of  the  industry 
since  1890. 

Michigan  sliares  so  largely  in  the  catch  from  all  but 
one  of  tliosc  lakes  that  what  is  true  of  the  fisheries  of 
the  Great  Lakes  region  in  general  may  be  considered 
equally  true  of  the  Michigan  fisheries.  The  following 
comparative  summary  shows  the  principal  statistics 
for  the  various  canvasses  from  1890  to  1908,  inclusive: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

TALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

Appa- 
ratus of 
eaptims. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

3,294 
3,348 
2,968 
2,943 

»1, 415, 000 
962,000 
824,000 
836,000 

1594,000 
394,000 
299,000 
278,000 

$821,000 
668,000 
524,000 
558,000 

38,302.000 
35,609,000 
32,.%9,000 
32,872,000 

$1,473,000 

1903 

1,224,000 

1899 

894,000 

1890 

934,000 

Persons  employed. — Statistics   of    the   persons   em- 
ployed in  the  fisheries  of  Michigan  in  1908  are  given 


in  the  following  table: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTRICT  AND   CLASS. 

Total 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fisher- 
men. 

Salaried 
employees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total 

3,472 

11,698 

8 

1,766 

$533,000 

$6,600 

2  $527,000 

501 

27 

2,766 

178 

117 

7 

1,674 

5 

379 

20 

1,189 

178 

174,000 

5,700 

289,000 

64,000 

3,900 

170,000 

5,700 

3 

2,700 

286,000 

64,000 

1,268 

553 

1 

714 

236,000 

1,200 

235,000 

311 
5 

873 
79 

1,382 

98 

1 

454 

1 

212 

4 

419 

79 

692 

100.000 

900 

103,000 

.12,000 

1%,000 

1,200 

99,000 

Transporting  vessels 

900 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

103,000 

32,000 

684 

6 

6,200 

191,000 

131 

22 

1,148 

81 

371 

14 

6 

664 

3 

114 
16 

481 
81 

105 

51,000 

4,900 

115,000 

25,000 

57,000 

2,500 

49,000 

Transporting  vessels 

4,900 

3 

2,700 

112,000 

25,000 

205 

1 

200 

67,000 

59 

297 

15 

230 

221 

6 
200 

1 

63 
97 
15 

163 

32 

23,000 

27,000 

7,000 

34,000 

11,000 

200 

23,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries.                   

27,000 

7,000 
34,000 

Lake  Erie  district  (shore  and  boat  fisheries) . 

67 
189 

Lake  St.  Clair                                                                      .      . 

11,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries                          .        

218 
3 

189 

29 
3 

10,000 
300 

10,000 

300 

'  E.xclusive  of  52  proprietors  not  fishing. 


s  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $47,000. 


166 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  state  had  vessel  fisheries  in  three  of  the  Great 
Lakes — Lakes  Michigan,  Superior,  and  Huron — and 
634  vessel  fishermen  and  shoresmen  were  employed  in 
connection  with  such  fisheries.  The  number  of  shore 
and  boat  fishermen  and  their  employees,  including 
shoresmen,  amounted  to  2,81 1 .  Although  Lake  Michi- 
gan had  a  product  about  one-third  larger  than  that  of 
Lake  Huron,  the  persons  employed  in  fishing  num- 
bered 114  less. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — Statistics  concerning 
the  investment  in  vessels,  boats,  and  apparatus  of 
capture,  and  the  other  capital  employed  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  state,  are  given  in  the  following  tabic, 
for  the  state  and  for  the  several  lakes  and  their 
tributary  waters: 


VALUE 

OF  EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHEE 

capital: 

908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Lake 
Michi- 
gan dis- 
trict. 

Lake 
Huron 
district. 

Lake 
Superior 
district. 

Lake 

Erie 

district. 

Lake 
St.  Clair 
district. 

Total 

J2, 013, 000 

$897,000 

8733,000 

$226,000 

$111,000 

546.000 

Vessels,  including  outfit. 

327,000 

300,000 

242,000 

04,000 

22,000 

20,000 

1,800 

207,000 

217,000 

24,000 

21,000 

6,200 

821,000 

319,000 

502,000 

484,000 
114,000 

190,000 

192,000 

161.000 

41,000 

4,100 

3,800 

400 

106,000 

97,000 

3,100 

6,600 

400 

377,000 

192,000 

185,000 

148.000 
70,000 

89,000 

72.000 

55.000 

17.000 

17,000 

16,000 

1,600 

96,000 

71,000 

18.000 

5,100 

1.700 

281.000 

81,000 

200,000 

236,000 
32,000 

41,000 

41,000 

36,000 

5,800 

Fishiing 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Boats 

36,000 
29,000 
3,200 
3,200 
200 
105.000 
46,000 

68,000 

30,000 
8,200 

19,000 
14,000 

10,000 
5,900 

Steam  and  motor. . . 
Sail 

Row            

2,700 
2.900 
51,000 

4  200 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture .. . 

8,000 

Sliore  and  boat  fish- 

51,000 

41,000 
600 

8,000 

25,000 
3,600 

Shore     and     accessory 
property 

Cash 

The  statement  at  top  of  next  column  gives  detailed 
statistics  of  the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels  and 
the  number  of  boats. 


VESSEL.S  ANll   BOATS:    1908. 

class  of  ceaft. 

Total. 

Lake 
Michi- 
gan dis- 
trict. 

Lake 
Uuron 
district. 

Lake 
Sui>erior 
district. 

Lake 

Erie 

district. 

Lake 

.'it.  Clair 
district. 

Vessels: 

Fishing— 

Niiinhpr 

97 
1,407 

13 
73 

1,647 
445 
210 
879 
113 

72 
879 

2 

17 

640 

201 

47 
284 

8 

17 
323 

11 
56 

674 
133 
128 
226 
87 

8 
205 

Transporting^ 

Tonnage 

210 
62 
35 

112 
1 

167 
36 

15B 

Steam  and  motor. . . 
Sail 

13 

Row 

114 
17 

143 

Other 

The  shore  and  accessory  property  of  the  vessel 
fisheries  was  valued  at  $137,000,  that  of  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  at  .$344,000,  and  that  of  transporting 
vessels  at  $3,500.  Of  the  cash  capital,  $67,000  is 
credited  to  the  vessel  fisheries,  $46,000  to  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  and  $600  to  transporting  vessels. 
The  total  investment  comprised  $829,000  invested  in 
vessel  fisheries,  $1,159,000  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
and  $26,000  in  transporting  vessels.  No  sailing  ves- 
sels were  used,  and  the  number  of  sailboats  was  com- 
paratively small. 

Gill  nets  and  pound  and  trap  nets  were  the  principal 
kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture.  All  of  these  nets  were 
used  in  both  classes  of  fisheries,  but  gill  nets  were 
used  in  vessel  fisheries  almost  to  the  exclusion  of  other 
apparatus,  while  pound  and  trap  nets  were  more 
generally  used  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  same 
conditions  were  apparent  at  all  previous  canvasses. 
On  Lake  Superior,  however,  gill  nets  were  used  in 
much  greater  numbers  than  pound  and  trap  nets  in 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  as  well  as  in  vessel  fisheries. 

The  number  of  the  various  kinds  of  ap])aratus 
reported  was  as  follows: 


Fyke  and  hoop  nets. . 

Gill  nets 

Harpoons,  spears,  etjc 
Pound  and  trap  nets. 

Seines 

Traps,  muskrat 


Total. 


1,069 

55,673 

6.53 

2,232 
120 
130 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:   1908. 


Lake 
Michigan 
district. 


37,688 


786 
3 


Distributed  by  districts. 


Lake 
Huron 
district. 


694 

10,341 

208 

1,116 

38 


Lake 
Superior 
district. 


7,642 


Lake 

Erie 

district. 


361 


237 
60 
130 


Lake  St. 

Clair 
district. 


6 

2 

345 


24 


Distributed  by  class  of 
flshories. 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


36,783 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


1,069 

18,890 

563 

2,197 
119 
130 


Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  170,  gives  the 
weight  and  value  of  the  product  of  the  Michigan  fisher- 
ies, by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture  for  1908. 

Twenty-three  species  were  taken  in  the  fisheries 
of  Michigan.  Lake  trout  ranked  first,  the  value  of 
this  species,  fresh  and  salted,  forming  29  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  all  products  of  the  state.  Whitefish  of 
all  kinds,  fresh,  smoked,  and  salted,  including  the 
longjaw  and  Menominee  varieties  and  also  whitefish 


caviar,  stood  next  to  lake  trout  in  importance,  its 
value  forming  23  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery 
products  from  the  state;  whitefish  alone,  fresh, 
salted,  and  smoked,  contributed  20  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  products.  Lake  herring  were  taken  in 
greater  quantities  than  trout  and  whitefish  combined. 
The  weight  of  this  species  formed  39  per  cent  of  the 
weight  of  all  fishery  products,  but  its  value  formed 
only  21  per  cent  of  the  total  value.     Suckers,  and  the 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


167 


v^arious  pike  perches  combined,  ranked  next  in  value. 
The  value  of  these  five  species  formed  87  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  entire  state  fishery  product. 

Products,  by  fisJiing  grounds. — Tables  2  to  6,  on  pages 
170  to  172,  give,  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture, 
the  quantities  and  values  of  the  products  of  the  Michi- 
gan fisheries  in  1908  for  Lakes  Micliigan,  Huron, 
Superior,  Erie,  and  St.  Clair,  respectively.  The  lakes 
ranked  in  the  order  named  with  respect  to  value  of 
products.  The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the 
value  of  the  chief  species,  for  the  state  and  for  the 
respective  lakes,  ranked  according  to  the  value  for  the 
state  as  a  whole: 


Total. 


$1,473,000 


Fish 

Trout 

nerring,  lake 

WliitcQsh 

Suckers 

Pike  perch  (wall- 
eyed pike) 

Perch,  yellow 

Carp,  German 

Whiteflsh.  longjaw... 

Pike  and  pickerel  — 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Sturgeon  and  caviar. . 

Whiteflsh,  Menomi- 
nee  

All  other 

AU  other 


VALVE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


,472,000 
424,000 
304,000 
297,000 
117,000 

93.000 
73,000 
55,000 
36,000 
32,000 
12,000 
8.000 

6,200 
14,000 
1.200 


Lake 
Michigan 
district. 


$661,000 


$486,000 


Lake 
Huron 
district. 


Lake 
Superior 
district. 


$201,000 


486,000 
89.000 
72,000 
60.000 
76,000 

76.000 

53,000 

11,000 

30,000 

4,200 

7,500 

1,400 

700 
4,000 


Lake 

Erie 

district. 


$93,000 
93,000 


3,000 
1,000 


400 


Lake 
St.  Clair 
district. 


100 
16,000 
4,500 


4,000 
33,000 


24,000 
3,600 
1,000 


6,500 
>400 


$32,000 
32,000 


700 

12,000 
3,700 
11,000 


1,400 

600 

1,800 


'  Less  than  $100. 


'  Mussels. 


8  Muskrat  skins. 


The  fisheries  in  Lake  Michigan  furnished  45  per 
cent  both  of  the  weight  and  of  the  value  of  the  entire 
Michigan  product.  The  yield  of  liake  Huron  was 
next  to  that  of  Lake  Michigan,  contributing  34  per 
cent  of  the  weight  and  33  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
catch  of  the  entire  state.  Of  the  eight  species  taken 
in  Lake  Superior,  trout  was  the  most  important,  repre- 
senting 47  per  cent  of  the  weight  and  64  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  the  products  of  this  lake.  A  similar  prepon- 
derance of  trout  appeared  in  both  the  vessel  fisheries 
and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  ^^Tiitefish  and  her- 
ring made  up  the  bulk  of  the  remaining  product  in 
both  classes  of  the  Lake  Superior  fisheries. 

Notwithstanding  the  fact  that  the  Lake  Erie  fish- 
eries of  Michigan  were  all  of  the  shore  and  boat  class, 
15  species  of  fish  were  taken.  The  catch  of  this  lake 
represented  only  8  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  6  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  state  product.  No  lake  trout 
were  reported  as  taken  in  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Erie 
and  the  lake  herring  taken  formed  only  a  negligible 
proportion  of  the  product.  The  German  caqi,  a  minor 
species  in  the  state  as  a  whole,  was  the  most  important 
product  of  this  lake,  the  Lake  Erie  catch  of  this  species 
representing  over  one-half  of  the  quantity  and  over 
one-third  of  the  value  of  the  total  catch  of  Lake  Erie 
for  Michigan,  and  69  per  cent  of  the  weight  and  60  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch  of  this  species  in  the 
state. 


Lake  St.  Clair  supplied  about  2  per  cent  of  the 
Michigan  fishery  product.  The  leading  species  was 
wall-eyed  pike.  German  carp  ranked  next  in  value. 
These  two  species  contributed  72  per  cent  of  the 
weight  and  71  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  pro- 
duct of  this  lake. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — Tables  7  and  8,  on 
pages  172  and  173,  give  the  products  taken  in  the  vessel 
fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Michigan, 
respectively,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 
The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  value  of  the 
products,  by  class  of  fisheries  and  by  species,  ranlced 
according  to  the  value  reported  for  the  state  as  a  whole : 


VALUE 

or  PRODUCTS 

:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$1,473,000 

$516,000 

$957,000 

Fish                           

1,472,000 

424,000 

304,000 

297,000 

117,000 

93,000 

73,000 

55,000 

36,000 

32,000 

12,000 

8,000 

6,200 

14,000 

1,200 

616,000 

266,000 

102,000 

110,000 

1,900 

800 

900 

33,000 
400 
lOO 
700 

^'^800 

956,000 

Trout                                  '- 

158,000 

202,000 

Whitefish                       

187,000 

11.5,000 

Pike  T>erch  f wall-eved  pike) 

93.000 

72,000 

55,000 

3,100 

32,000 

12,000 

7,300 

6,200 

All  other                          

13,000 

1,200 

>  Less  than  $100. 


Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — Pound  nets  and 
gill  nets  both  took  large  shares  of  the  total  catch. 
The  larger  quantity  is  reported  for  pound  nets,  but 
gill  nets  are  credited  with  the  greater  value  of  the 
product.  Combined,  these  two  kinds  of  apparatus  took 
a  quantity  representing  85  per  cent  of  the  total  weight 
and  86  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 

The  value  of  the  catch,  by  kinds  of  apparatus,  for 
the  state  and  the  respective  lake  districts,  is  given  in 
the  following  tabular  statement : 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Lake 
Michi- 
gan 
district. 

Lake 
Huron 
district. 

Lake 

Superior 
district. 

Lake 

Erie 

district. 

Lake 
St.  Clair 
district. 

Total 

$1,473,000 

$661,000 

$486,000 

$201,000 

$93,000 

$32,000 

Gill  nets 

715,000 

550,000 

94,000 

55,000 

52,000 

7,000 

420,000 
224,000 

140,000 

269,000 

58,000 

13,000 

3,200 

3,700 

156,000 

29,000 
100 
400 

16,000 

29,000 

36,000 

27,000 

700 

400 

(') 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets. 

Fjrke  and  hoop  nets 

100 

1,300 

16,000 

800 

13,000 

Lines         

17,000 

A 11  other 

2,100 

I  Less  than  $100. 


In  Lake  Superior  gill  nets  were  most  important  by  a 
wide  margin  in  both  classes  of  fisheries  and  they  were 
also  the  leading  apparatus  of  capture  in  Lake  Michigan, 
but  in  Lake  Erie  they  were  not  used,  and  in  Lake  St. 
Clair  they  were  used  but  little.  Pound  and  trap  nets, 
which  were  the  most  important  apparatus  of  capture 


168 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


on  Lake  Huron,  owe  their  prominence  in  part  to  their 
wide  adaptability.  Fyke  and  hoop  nets,  seines,  and 
lines  were  next  in  order.  Lake  trout  contributed 
more  than  half  of  the  value  of  the  gill-net  catch,  and 
whitefish  and  herring  furnished  the  greater  part  of  the 
remainder;  while  lake  herring  and  whitefish  composed 
more  than  one-half  of  the  pound  and  trap  net  catch. 
Of  the  products  taken  with  fyke  and  hoop  nets, 
suckers  were  the  leading  species,  but  although  the 
quantity  of  tliis  species  taken  was  more  than  double 
that  of  any  other,  except  German  carp,  it  contributed 
only  a  little  more  than  a  third  of  the  value  of  the  total 
product  taken  by  this  class  of  nets.  Fyke  and  hoop 
nets  were  used  to  a  greater  extent  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  Lake  Huron  than  elsewhere,  but  they  were 
of  the  greatest  relative  importance  on  Lake  Erie.  In 
Lakes  Erie  and  St.  Clair,  as  a  result  of  the  prevalence 
of  carp,  seines  were  among  the  most  important  forms 
of  apparatus  of  capture  used.  Carp  contributed  68 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  seine  capture  of  the  state. 
Of  the  value  of  the  total  line  catch,  60  per  cent  repre- 
sented lake  trout.  Every  district  and  class  of  fisher- 
ies, except  the  vessel  fisheries  of  Lake  Huron,  reported 
products  taken  with  lines. 

Lake  trout. — Three  species — lake  trout,  whitefish, 
and  lake  herring — made  up  approximately  70  per  cent 
of  the  fishery  product  of  Michigan.  Lake  trout  fur- 
nished 29  per  cent  of  the  value,  though  only  18  per 
cent  of  the  weight,  of  the  state  fishery  product. 
About  4  per  cent  of  the  catch  was  salted,  but  the  gen- 
eral practice  in  regard  to  this  fish  was  to  market  it 
fresh. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  catch  reported  at  the  various  can- 
vasses from  1890  to  1908,  inclusive.  Since  1903  a 
heavy  decrease  in  quantity  has  taken  place,  but 
prices  have  been  such  as  to  keep  the  value  very  nearly 
the  same. 


LAKE-TKOnT  PBODtJCT. 

TEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

6,798,000 
9,688,000 
6,691,000 
8,643,000 

$424,000 
426,000 
260,000 
310,000 

1903 

1899 

1890 

Whitish. — This  product  ranked  second  in  value  of 
catch  among  all  fishery  products  of  Michigan.  Two 
species  in  addition  to  the  common  species  were 
taken,  and  a  small  amount  of  caviar  was  made  from 
the  eggs.  The  totals  given  in  the  tabular  statement 
presented  below  are  for  all  of  these  species  combined, 
including  caviar.  The  great  bulk  of  the  catch 
was  sold  fresh,  but  a  small  percentage  was  salted  and 
a  very  small  amount  smoked.  The  quantity  taken  by 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  was  about  a  fifth  larger 
than  that  taken  by  the  vessel  fisheries,  and  brought 


slightly  higher  prices.  This  fish  was  taken  in  each  of 
the  five  lakes,  but  considerably  more  than  half  came 
from  Lake  Michigan.  Lakes  Erie  and  St.  Clair  con- 
tributed but  small  proportions  of  the  total.  "V^liite- 
fish  has  experienced  a  marked  recovery  from  the  down- 
ward movement  apparent  in  1899  and  1903,  but  the 
yield  in  1908  was  still  far  below  that  in  1890  with 
respect  to  quantity,  although  the  demand  made  its 
value  greater  than  the  value  reported  for  any  previous 
year  for  which  statistics  are  available.  Comparative 
figures  for  the  various  canvasses  beginning  with  1890 
are  given  below: 


WHITEFl.SH  PRODUCT. 

TXAS. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

4,775,000 
6,825,000 
4,016,000 
7,725,000 

$339,000 
271  000 

1903 

1899 

173,000 
312,000 

1890 

Lake  herring. — This  fish  was  taken  in  greater  quan- 
tities than  lake  trout  and  whitefish  combined,  but  its 
value  was  less  than  that  of  either  of  these  species. 
Lake  herring  represented  39  per  cent  of  the  weight  and 
21  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  product.  Nearly 
two-thirds  of  the  catch  was  salted,  practically  all  of 
the  salting  being  done  by  the  shore  and  boat  fishermen, 
who  in  1908  treated  over  three-fourths  of  their  lake- 
herring  product  in  this  way.  This  fish  was  not  taken 
in  Lake  St.  Clair,  nor  in  more  than  a  negligible  quantity 
in  Lake  Erie. 

The  total  lake-herring  catch  in  1908  exceeded  in 
quantity  and  value  that  of  any  previous  year  for  which 
statistics  are  available.  The  figures  for  the  more  re- 
cent canvasses  are  as  follows: 


TKAB. 

LAKE-HEKKINO 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

14,787.000 
9,933,000 

12,986,000 
6,394,000 

$304,000 

1903 

220  000 

1899 

248,000 
87,000 

1890                                            .  . 

Suckers. — This  species  contributed  12  per  cent  of 
the  weight  and  8  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  state 
fishery  product,  the  catch  in  1908  being  scarcely  in- 
ferior to  that  of  wliitefish  in  weight,  but  only  about 
one-third  as  valuable.  Only  a  small  portion  of  the 
total  product  of  tlus  species  was  salted,  and  almost 
all  of  the  quantity  so  treated  came  from  Lake  Michi- 
gan. Nearly  seven-tenths  of  the  catch  was  made  by 
pound  and  trap  nets,  and  the  bulk  of  the  remainder 
was  taken  by  fyke  and  hoop  nets.  This  species  has 
shown  a  steady  increase  both  in  the  weight  and  in  the 
value  of  the  yield,  as  indicated  by  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


169 


TEAR. 

SOCKEB  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908  

4,467,000 
4.087,000 
1,775,000 

$117,000 

1903                                                    

85.000 

1899 

30,000 

Pike  perches. — Under  this  head  are  included  the 
blue  pike,  the  sauger  pike,  and  the  wall-eyed  pike, 
which  is  many  times  more  important  than  the  two 
fii'st-named  species  in  the  catch  of  this  state.  The 
blue  pike  was  taken  only  in  the  vessel  fisheries,  while 
the  others  were  taken  almost  exclusively  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries.  All  of  the  blue-pike  product  was 
from  Lake  Michigan,  and  all  of  the  salted  sauger  pike 
came  from  the  vessel  fisheries  of  the  same  district. 
Most  of  the  catch  of  fresh  sauger  pike  was  from  Ijake 
Erie.  About  four-fifths  of  the  wall-eyed  pike  came  from 
Lake  Huron ,  while  most  of  the  remainder  was  from  Lake 
St.  Clair,  of  which  this  is  the  leading  product,  meas- 
ured by  value.  In  Lake  Huron  this  species  was  taken 
chiefly  by  pound  and  trap  nets  and  in  Lake  St.  Clair 
chiefly  by  lines.  A  greater  quantity  of  sauger  pike  was 
taken  with  fyke  and  hoop  nets  than  with  pound  and 
trap  nets,  the  only  other  class  of  apparatus  for  which 
product  of  any  importance  was  reported.  For  the  cap- 
ture of  blue  pike  gill  nets  were  used  exclusively.  The 
yield  of  pike  perch  was  less  in  1908  than  in  any  of  the 
years  for  wliicli  a  canvass  has  been  made,  but  its  value 
was  exceeded  only  by  that  of  the  catch  of  1903. 
Figures  for  the  various  canvasses  are  presented  in  the 
following  tabular  statement : 


TEAR. 

PIKE-PERCH  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                                          

1,194,000 

2,318,000 

1,989,000 

'  2,690,000 

$98,000 

1903 

127,000 

1899                                                  

92,000 

1890 - 

'87,000 

1  Includes  pike. 

Yellow  perch. — This  species  contributed  about  5  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  state  products,  and  was  taken 
almost  wholly  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Lake 
Huron  furnished  almost  three-fourths  of  the  total 
value  of  the  yellow  perch  caught  and  Lake  Mchigan 


the  greater  part  of  the  remainder.  Over  three-fourths 
of  the  Lake  Huron  product  was  taken  with  pound  and 
trap  nets,  and  fyke  and  hoop  nets  ranked  next  in  im- 
portance among  the  kinds  of  apparatus  used.  In 
Lake  ilichigan  gill  nets  took  nearly  as  great  a  quan- 
tity as  pound  and  trap  nets,  and  the  catch  was  of 
greater  value;  all  but  a  small  part  of  the  catch  was 
taken  by  these  two  forms  of  apparatus.  The  yellow- 
perch  catch  has  increased  in  value  steadily,  but  the 
quantity  taken  in  1908,  though  greater  than  that 
taken  in  1903,  was  much  less  than  the  catch  in  1899  or 
1890. 


TEAR. 

TELLOW-PEBCH 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,378,000 
2,257,000 
3,137,000 
3,029,000 

$73,000 

1903                     

53.000 

1899 

41,000 

1890                   

40,000 

German  carp. — This  species  is  mentioned  separately 
because  it  has  risen  from  an  inferior  rank  to  one  of 
prominence  since  the  last  canvass.  Though  con- 
tributing only  6  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  3  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  state  product  in  1908,  Ger- 
man carp  ranked  seventh  in  value  and  the  quantity 
caught  was  greater  than  that  of  yellow  perch.  It 
was  not  taken  in  Lake  Superior,  nor  to  any  extent  in 
Lake  Michigan,  but  it  contributed  over  one-half  of  the 
weight  and  over  one-third  of  the  value  of  the  total 
fishery  product  reported  for  Lake  Erie,  to  which  lake 
over  two-thirds  of  the  weight  of  the  Micliigan  capture 
of  carp  is  credited.  The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of 
Lake  Huron  reported  about  one-half  of  the  weight  and 
over  one-half  of  the  value  of  the  product  not  taken 
in  Lake  Erie,  while  Lake  St.  Clair  reported  most  of 
the  remainder. 


QERMAN-CARP 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,459,000 
580,000 
218,000 

$55,000 

1903                                                                       

10,000 

1899 

4,300 

170 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— MICHIGAN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

sPECrea. 

TOTAL. 

Gill  nets. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Fylce  and  hoop 
nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.! 

Quantity      y^ 
(pounds),  j 

i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity' y, 
(pounds). 

Total 

38,302,000  ;»1,473,000 

13,240,000 

$715,000 

19,299,000 

J550,000 

2,656,000 

394,000 

2,051,000 

$55,000 

855,000 

$52,000 

301,000     $7,000 

Fish: 

2,300 

2,459,000 
270,000 
85,000 
180,000 

14,787,000 

10,000 

4,000 

2,378,000 

478,000 

27.000 
109,000 

1,058.000 
67,000 

57,000 

1,200 

4,467,000 

48,000 
6,798,000 

37,000 

3,753,000 

870,000 

149,000 

2,300 

8,700 

200,000 
300 

400 

55,000 

12,000 

1,200 

1,800 

304,000 

100 

400 

73,000 

32,000 

700 
3,500 

93,000 
2,100 

7,100 

900 

117,000 

1,300 
424,000 

1,800 

297,000 

36,000 

6,200 

200 

100 

800 
400 

100 

300 

7,100 

8 
300 

200 

241,000 

134,000 

13,000 

90,000 

10,930,000 

7,400 

100 

1,526,000 

221,000 

(') 

4,500 

6,000 

200 

900 

170,000 
100 

m 

43,000 
15,000 

2,000 
8,000 
6,000 

400 
200 
400 

Carp  German 

491,000 
105,000 
72,000 
94,000 

2,400 
800 

13,000 

4,300 

1,000 

900 

100 

1,697,000 
17,000 

37,000 
700 

22,000 

1,500 

200 

300 

Catfish  and  bullheads... 

Dogfish,  orbowfin 

Drum,  or  sheepshead . . . 

100 

1,700 

3,840,000 
1,900 

133,000 

400 
3,400 

100 

11,000 
100 

500 

Lin^,  or  lawyer 



300 
44.000 
16,000 

1,500 
1,100 

3,600 
8.100 
18,000 

300 

Perch ,  yellow 

204,000 
9,400 

27,000 
400 

25,000 

7,200 
500 

700 

m 

2,000 

450,000 
207,000 

io.ooo 

15,000 

146,000 
6,300 

5,400 
300 

400 

Pike  and  pickerel 

Pike  perch  (blue  pike).. 

Pike  perch  (sauger) 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed 
pike) 

600 

44,000 

726,000 
13,000 

37,000 

1,100 

3,101,000 

23,000 

453,000 

9,200 
1,663,000 
9.700 
47,000 
1,600 
8,100 

1,200 

66,000 
400 

4,600 
800 

72,000 
500 

27,000 

400 
135,000 
300 
1.900 
200 
100 

64,000 

13,000 
36,000 

1,300 

2,300 

1,200 
1,300 

100 

200 

107,000 
4,000 

500 

100 

149,000 

6.100 

1,600 

600 

4,700 

100 

100 

(') 

10,000 
200 

100 

m 

3,200 
100 
100 

(=) 
400 

m 
(0 

1 

148,000 
4,000 

17,000 

100 

2.000 

2,000 

498,000 

10,000 
200 

2,200 

100 

100 

100 

31,000 

39.000 

3,800 

1,000 

100 

Sturgeon  caviar 

::::::::::  

266,000 

800 

5,845,000 

700 

2,045,000 

801.000 

102,000 

600 

7,900 
366,000 

158,000 

36.000 

4,300 

100 

950,000 
8,000 

26,000 
34,000 

34,000 
300 

(') 

1,300 
3,100 

8,000 

200 

Trout 

Whiteflsii 

5,600 

400 

Whitefish(longjaw).... 
Whitefish  ( Menominee). 

100 

(=) 

500 

m 

200.000 
30O 

800 

400 



1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  100,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,800;  crowfoot  dredges,  etc.,  200,000  pounds,  valued  at  $800;  and  muslc- 
rat  traps,  300  pounds,  valued  at  $400. 
»  Less  than  $100. 
'  Less  than  100  pounds. 

Table  2.— MICHIGAN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

GUI  nets. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Crowfoot  dredges, 
etc. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

17,044,000 

$661,000 

7,042,000 

$420,000 

9,526,000 

$224,000 

246,000 

$15,000 

31,000 

$1,300 

200,000 

$800 

Fish: 

3,800 

2,500 

24,000 

2,625,000 

6,479,000 

8,300 
348,000 
21,000 
27,000 
52,000 

21,000 

800 

1,223,000 

216,000 

3,214,000 

70,000 

2,000 

2,172,000 

137,000 

68,000 

• 

36,000 

91,000 
2,100 
1,.300 

200,000 

100 

200 

400 

108,000 

98,000 

100 

12,000 

1,800 

700 
4,500 

2,800 

700 

28,000 

4,600 

203,000 

3,600 

100 

174,000 

8,600 

3,000 

1,300 

4,200 
200 
100 

800 

300 

700 

1,700 

2,123,000 

12,000 

1,900 

140,000 

1,700 

27,000 

1,600 

600 

(') 

100 
(') 
102,000 

400 

(') 

5,400 
100 
700 
100 

100 

3,600 

1,300 

22,000 

489,000 

6,467,000 

6,400 

143,000 

19,000 

100 

100 

400 

5,200 

97,000 

100 
4,600 
1,700 

Cattish  and  bullheads 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

SOO 

(■) 

11,000 

500 

2,000 

100 

Herring,  lake,  salted 

100 

69,000 

300 

(') 
1,900 

0) 

6,600 

300 

Pike  perch  (blue  pike) 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

60,000 

20,000 

800 

1,070,000 

145,000 

172,000 

4,700 

1,300 
763,000 
102,000 

4,200 

3,000 

37,000 

1,500 

900 

4,400 

2,700 

700 

23,000 

2,600 

10,000 

200 

100 

62. «» 

6,400 

200 

100 

1,600 
100 
100 

(') 

(') 

135,000 

67,000 

2,873,000 

65,000 

700 

1,403.000 

35,000 

63,000 

33,000 

54,000 
600 
400 

4,400 

1,900 

180,000 

3,400 

(') 
112,000 
2,200 
2,800 

1,200 

2,600 
100 

(•) 

2,000 

100 

16,000 

6,000 
1.000 

600 
100 
100 

Trout,  fresh 

169,000 

12,000 

(') 



Whitefish  fresh 

5,600 

400 

Whitefish  salted 

Whitefish  (longjaw j,  fresh . . 

Whitefish       (Menominee), 
fresh 

Whitefish       (Menominee), 
salted 

200,000 

800 

'  Less  than  $100. 


'  Less  than  100  pounds. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— MICHIGAN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  HURON  DISTRICT:  1908. 


171 


PRODUCT  CAtJQHT  BY— 

SPECIE3. 

TOTAI. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Seines. 

Harpoons,  spears, 
etc. 

Lines. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total..                     

12,932,000 

»486,000 

8,589,000 

149,000 

118,(»0 

13,000 

8,100 

1,121,000 

2,824,000 

1,362,000 

37,000 

3,100 

668,000 

13,000 

9,400 

300 

1,645,000 

9,200 

23.000 

113,000 

3,900 

447,000 
13,000 

1269,000 

2,900 

5,300 

200 

100 

16,000 

51,000 

37,000 

2,400 

100 

61,000 

400 

1,200 

100 

42,000 

200 

600 

6,800 

200 

,39,000 
600 

2,408,000 

(') 
6,300 

$140,000 

(') 
200 

1,520,000 

207,000 
39.000 
69,000 

$58,000 

7,500 
1,600 
1,000 

264,000 

$13,000 

42,000 

$3,700 

50.000 

$3,200 

Carp,  German 

407,000 

174,000 

82,000 

8,100 

1,239,000 

2,824,000 

1,805,000 

63,000 

3,500 

829,000 

48,000 

9,900 

30O 

2,566,000 
9,400 
34,000 

1,353,000 
5,800 

693,000 
13,000 
13,000 

728,000 

19,000 

3,000 

100 

1,900 

11,000 

7.500 

1.200 

100 

21.000 

61.000 

53.000 

4.200 

100 

76,000 

1,700 

1,200 

100 

76,000 
200 
900 

89.000 
200 

58,000 

600 

1,200 

30,000 

COO 

100 

45,000 
10,000 

700 
400 

5,900 

200 

CatlLsh  and  lnillhoad,s 

600 

(») 

DoKO-sh,  or  bowfln 

200 

m 

Drum .  or  shcepshcad 

HerrinR,  lake,  fresh 

115,000 

4,800 

1,900 

C) 

1,400 

C-) 

64,000 
7,000 

100 
23,000 

1,800 
300 

(•) 
1,800 

342,666 
15,000 

200 
11,000 
36,000 

13,000 
1,200 

m 

1,100 
1,300 

32,666 
3.400 

200 
91,000 

1,000 
200 

(•) 
8,700 

100 

m 

6,000 

200 

Piko  porch  (sauger),  fresh 

Pike  perch  (walt-eved  pikej 

35,000 

3,600 

Rock  bass 

Sturgeon 

400 

100 

(') 

(') 

Sturgeon  caviar 

Suckers,  fresh 

53,000 

200 

800 

1,195,000 

2,000 

245,000 

100 

13.000 

727.000 

15,000 

300 

1,300 

h 

79,000 
100 

19,000 

m 

1,200 
30,000 

400 

(') 

789,000 

31,000 

80,000 

1,600 

Suckers,  salted 

Sunftsh : 

8,500 
(') 

300 

m 

1,100 
100 

(') 
(=) 

Trout,  fresh 

44,000 

3,000 

Trout,  salted 

Whiteflsh,  fresh 

200 

(.') 

200 

m 

Whitefish,  salted 

Whiteflsh,  smoked 



Whitchsh  (longjaw),  fresh 

700 
3,900 

100 

Whiteflsh  (Menominee),  fresh 

100 

m 

Whitefush      (Menominee), 
.salted 

2.700             100 

Whilefisii  caviar 

(')     ,         100       m 
100  1      1.000       m 

Another 

900 

(«) 

1 

*  Less  than  100  pounds. 


'  Less  than  $100. 


Table  4.— MICHIGAN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY- 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

GUI  nets. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,               ^  , „ 

and  weirs.                        ^'"'®- 

1 

Seines.                 Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value       Quantity 
^*'™-      (pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

4.579,000 

$201,000 

3,731,000 

$156,000 

554,000 

$29,000         9Sfi  nnn 

$16,000 

5,800 

$400 

2,100 

$100 

Herring,  lake,  fre-sh 

1.304,000 

314,000 

24,000 

10.000 

4,200 

154,000 

6,900 

1,941,000 

214,000 

513,000 
18.000 
68,000 
7,000 

20,000 

6,000 

1.000 

800 

400 

2,800 

100 

117,000 

12.000 

37.000 

l.,300 

2,800 

300 

1,277.000 

314.000 

200 

800 

19,000 
5,900 
(') 
100 

27,000 

600 

600 

(') 

Pike  and  pickerel 

23,000 
7,600 
4,200 

145,000 
5.500 

158,000 
1,500 

160,000 
12,000 
4.800 

900 
600 
400 

2,600 
100 
9,700 
(') 

13,000 

200 
500 

« 

800. 
1,300 

100 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

100 

Sturgeon 

Suckers,  fresh 

9,200 

1,400 

1,. 525, 000 

184,000 

342,000 

5,800 

63,000 

7,000 

300 

(') 

93,000 
10,000 

23,000 

400 

2,600 

300 

Suckers,  salted 

Trout,  fresh 

257,000 
29,000 

14,000 
1.700 

500 

(') 

Trout,  salted 

Whitefish,  fresh 

4,800 

300 

Whiteflsh,  salted 

800 
100 

Whitefish  (longjaw),  frash 

Whitefish  (longjaw),  salted 

100 

(') 

Less  than  SIOO. 


172 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  5.— MICHIGAN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  ERIE  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PKODDCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Muslirat  traps. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

3,010,000 

»93,000 

1,031,000 

$30,000 

630,000 

$29,000 

1,343,000 

$27,000 

5,000 

$700 

300 

$400 

Fish: 

1,684,000 

87,000 

154,000 

2,100 

133,000 

338,000 

105,000 

9,000 

258,000 
35,000 

193,000 
11,000 

«300 

33,000 
3,600 
1,300 
'100 

4,000 

24,000 

3,300 

1,000 

4,500 

1,700 

16,000 

100 

400 

284,000 

66,000 

94,000 

500 

108,000 

189,000 

64,000 

1,300 

160,000 
26,000 
34,000 
3,000 

5,700 
2,700 
900 
0) 

3,300 

14,000 

2,200 

100 

2,900 
1,300 
3,100 
(■) 

88,000 

15,000 

60,000 

1,600 

21,000 

142,000 

41,000 

3,600 

82,000 

7,800 

159,800 

8,200 

1.500 

eoo 

400 
100 

600 
!>,  900 
1,100 

300 

1,300 

300 

13,000 

100 

1,311,000 

5,500 

400 

26,000 
200 
(') 

900 

(') 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

3,300 
6,100 

100 
400 

Pilrp  nprph 

4,100 

600 

16,000 
600 

300 

(') 

All  othpr 

=  300 

400 

'  Less  than  $100.  « 1, 000  skins. 

Table  6.— MICHIGAN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OP  LAKE  ST.  CLAIR  DISTRICT:  1908.' 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY — 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc. 

Gill,  fyke,  and  hoop  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

737,000 

$32,000 

269,000 

$17,000 

408,000 

$13,000 

59,000 

$2,100 

2,600 

$100 

2,000 

365,000 

6,000 

500 

3,900 

92,000 

32,000 

167,000 

8,100 

13,000 

200 

.34,000 

14,000 

(») 

400 

11,000 

500 

(») 

400 

3,700 

•    1,400 

12,000 

300 

1,600 
100 
700 
400 

m 

2,000 
8,000 
3,500 

400 
200 
30O 

341,000 
800 
500 
300 

2,000 
6,500 
15,000 
4,000 

400 

100 

33,000 

4,000 

10,000 

m 

P> 

100 

400 

1,200 

200 

(') 

(.') 
600 
100 

16,000 
1,600 

200 
100 

200 

(') 

3,600 

8,000 
18,000 
3,600 

300 

400 
600 
200 

82,000 

6,000 

148,000 

4,000 

13,000 
100 

3,300 

300 

10,000 

200 

1,600 
100 

Pike  and  pickerel  .                       

1,300 

100 

100 

(') 

900 

m 
m 

(') 

2,000 

100 

8,666 

200 

(4 

(!) 

Whitefish 

'  All  taken  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  '  Less  than  $100.  '  Less  than  100  potmds. 

Table  7,— MICHIGAN— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


Total 

Herring,  lake,  fresh 

Herring,  lake,  salted 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  arid  pickerel 

Pike  perch  (blue  pike) 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

Sturgeon 

Sturgeon  caviar 

Suckers,  fresh 

Suckers,  salted 

Trout,  fresh 

Trout,  salted 

Whitefish,  fresh 

Whltefish,  salted 

Whitefish  (longjaw) 

All  other 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


8,979,000 


2,403,000 
73,000 
26,000 
6,400 

27,000 

11,000 

8,100 

100 

61,000 

4,400 

4,079,000 

92,000 

1,369,000 

21,000 

794,000 

6,600 


Value. 


$516,000 


100,000 

1,200 

900 

400 

700 
800 
600 
100 

1,800 

100 

261,000 

4,800 

108,000 

1,200 

33,000 

200 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 


Gill  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


8,636,000 


2,366,000 

40,000 

21,000 

600 

27,000 
8,100 


22,000 

1,400 

3,932,000 

90,000 

1,314,000 

17,000 

794.000 

2,200 


Value. 


$497,000 


99,000 
500 
800 
(') 

700 
600 


600 

(■) 

251,000 

4,700 

104,000 

1,000 

33,000 

100 


Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


190,000 


33,000 

33,000 

1,400 

5,800 


3,200 

5,100 

100 

24,000 

"21,066' 


55,000 
3,500 


4,300 


Value. 


$9,400 


800 
700 


(') 


400 


300 

600 
100 


4,300 
200 


100 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


134,000 


2,700 
"4,066' 


126,000 
2,000 


Value. 


$9,000 


100 

"i66' 


1,000 
100 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


20,000 


2,000 
"""466' 


15,000 
3,000 


Value. 


$800 


100 


(') 


600 
100 


<  Less  tban  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  8.— MICHIGAN— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


173 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Pound  nets,   trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Allotherappa- 
ratus. ' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

29,323,000 

»957,000 

19,109,000 

$541,000 

4,605,000 

{219,000 

2,556,000 

$94,000 

2,031,000 

$54,000 

721,000 

$43,000 

301,000 

$7,000 

Fish: 

2,300 

2,459,000 

269.000 

85,000 

183,000 

2,767,000 

9,544,000 

9,100 

4,000 

2,351,000 

471,000 

108,000 

1,047,000 

57,000 

52,000 

1,100 

4, 174, 000 

228,000 

48,000 

2,429,000 
198.000 

37.000 

2,202,000 

148,000 

13.000 

70,000 

7,000 

54,000 

94,000 
2,300 
8,700 

200,000 
300 

400 

55,000 

12,000 

1,200 

1,800 

48,000 

154,060 

100 

400 

72,000 

32,000 
3,  500 

93,000 

2,100 

0,500 

800 

111,000 
4,800 
1,.300 

147,000 
11,000 

1,800 
177,000 
9.200 
1,200 
2,900 
300 

1,900 

4,300 
200 
100 

800 
400 

200 

241,000 

134,000 

13,000 

87,000 

1,605,000 

9,258,000 

6,900 

100 

1,525,000 

215,000 
44,000 

723, 0(K) 

13,000 

32,000 

1,000 

2,917,000 

159,000 

23,000 

422,000 

10,000 

8,900 

1,481,000 

124,000 

(') 

4,500 

5,900 

200 

900 

21.000 

148,000 

100 

m 

43,000 

14,000 

1,200 

06,000 

400 

4,000 

700 

69.000 
2,900 

500 
26,000 

400 

400 

123,000 

7,600 

100 

300 

6,600 

(«) 

200 

2,000 
8,000 
5,000 

400 
200 
400 

49i,666 

105,000 
72,000 
94,000 

2,400 

13,000 

4,300 

1,000 

900 

100 

1,697.000 
17,000 

37,000 
700 

22,000 

l.-'iOO 

200 

300 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

100 
(') 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

Herring,  lake,  fresh 

Herring,  lake,  salted 

1,600 

1,150,000 

286,000 

1,400 

(=) 

27,000 
5,800 
(') 

400 
1,400 

8,000 
600 
100 

400 

(') 
(>) 

800 

m 

300 
43,000 

16,000 

200 

107,000 

4,000 

500 

100 

129,000 
2,000 
5,100 
1,600 

1^'ioo 

1,100 

m 

10,000 
200 
100 
(») 

2,500 
100 

3,600 
8,100 

18,000 

300 

Perch,  yellow       .             .  . 

184,000 

8,700 

100 

17,000 

6,500 
500 

m 

1,400 

450,000 

207,000 

64,000 

13,000 

36,000 

1,300 

16,000 

15,000 

2,300 

1,200 

1,300 

100 

142,000 
6,300 

5,300 
300 

400 

Pike  and  pickerel    .          .  . 

600 

Pike  perch  (sauger),  fresh... 
Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

148,000 

4,000 

17,000 

100 

2,000 

10,000 

200 

2,200 

100 

100 

39,000 

3,800 

1,000 

100 

175,000 

67,000 

800 

1,662,000 

161,000 

700 

677,000 

24.000 

13.000 

60,000 

7,000 

47,000 

64,000 
600 

5,400 
1,900 

101,000 
9,100 

(») 
60,000 
1,700 
1,200 
2,500 
300 

1,600 

2,600 
100 

950,000 

34,000 

Sunfish    

8,600 

300 

2,000 

344,000 

27,000 

100 

21,000 

1,600 

8,000 

200 

26.000 
34,000 

1,300 
3,100 

600 
4,700 

^'ioo 

Whitpfi<;h    frpsh 

5,600 

400 

Whitefish  smoked 

Whitefish  (longjaw). fresh... 
Whitefish  (longjaw),  salted.. 

Whitefish       (Menominee), 

9,700 

300 

100 

(') 

6,800 

40,000 
1,600 
8,100 

200 

1,700 
200 
100 

100 

(') 

Whitefish       (Menominee), 
salted 

100 

(») 

600 

(') 

200,000 
300 

800 

400 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  100,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,800;  crowfoot  dredges,  etc.,  200,000  pounds,  valued  at  $800;  and  music- 
rat  traps,  300  pounds,  valued  at  $400.  "  Less  than  $100.  "  Less  than  100  pounds. 


MINNESOTA. 

The  chief  fishing  grounds  of  the  state  of  Minnesota 
are  the  Mississippi  River  and  Lake  Superior.  Com- 
mercial fishing  is  carried  on  to  a  considerable  extent 
also  in  the  numerous  small  lakes  and  rivers  of  the 
state,  especially  in  the  St.  Croix  and  other  tributaries 
of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  in  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 
and  Rainy  Lake,  which  are  tributary  to  Hudson  Bay. 

No  vessel  fishery  existed  in  the  state  in  1908,  and 
the  fisheries  of  Minnesota  were  entirely  of  the  shore 
and  boat  class,  although  four  vessels  were  engaged  in 
transporting  on  the  Lake  Superior  waters. 

The  following  statement  presents  a  summary  of  the 
chief  statistics  for  the  Minnesota  fisheries  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 934 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $52, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 43, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 33, 000 

Value  of  products 192, 000 

Comparison  vnth  previous  canvasses. — Although  leg- 
islation limiting  the  fishing  on  the  interior  watere  to 
hand  lines  and  spears  has  caused  a  decided  falling  off 


in  the  products  of  the  fisheries  of  this  state  since  1897, 
about  one-third  of  the  value  of  the  products  of  the 
state  fisheries  on  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tribu- 
taries in  1908  represented  the  value  of  products  from 
the  interior  lakes  and  rivers,  a  fact  which  indicates  a 
revival  of  commercial  fishing  on  these  waters.  Dur- 
ing the  past  few  years  carp  have  multiplied  to  such 
an  extent  in  the  lakes  and  other  interior  waters  that 
in  certain  cases  the  game  wardens  have  issued  to  fish- 
ermen special  licenses  to  seine  the  lakes  for  this  fish. 

The  next  comparative  summary  shows  the  changes 
that  have  taken  place  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Lake 
Superior  district  since  1899  and  in  those  on  the 
smaller  lakes  and  interior  rivers  since  1894.  In 
the  tabulation  for  1908  the  fisheries  of  the  Lake 
of  the  Woods  and  Rainy  Lake  have  been  included 
with  the  Lake  Superior  fisheries,  instead  of  with  those 
of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries. 

A  comparison  of  the  statistics  given  in  the  summary 
shows  that  there  has  been  a  steady  growth  in  the 
Lake  Superior  district,  and  that  commercial  fishing  on 
the  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  is  gradually  recover- 
ing from  the  temporary  setback  caused  by  the  passage 
of  stringent  laws. 


174 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VAtUE  Olf  EQUIPMENT. 

PHODCCTS. 

DISTRICT  AND 
TBAB. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 
boats,  in- 
cluding 

outfit. 

Appa- 
ratus o( 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Lake  Superior  dis- 
trict: 

1908 

212 
192 

127 

719 
468 
896 

S56,000 
29,000 
24,000 

39,000 

8,400 

92,000 

$32,000 
10,000 
7,900 

20,000 

3,000 

38,000 

123,000 
19,000 
16,000 

19,000 

5,400 

64,000 

3,802,000 

2,176,000 

609,000 

3,674,000 
1,322,000 
6,401,000 

J83,000 
45,000 
14,000 

109,000 

40,000 

103,000 

1903 

1899      . 

Mississippi    River 
district:' 
1908 

1899 

1894 

'  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  Rainy  Lake  are  included  in  the  Lake  Superior  district  in 
1908,  and  in  the  Mississippi  River  district  in  1894  and  1S99. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  number  and  distribution  of  the  persons  em- 
ployed in  the  fisheries  of  Minnesota  in  1908.  Over 
two-thirds  of  the  total  number  were  independent  fish- 
ermen in  the  Mississippi  River  district. 


PEESONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fisher- 
men. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Wages. 

Total 

934 

1807 

127 

» $29, 000 

Transporting  vessels. 

13 

918 

3 

3 

804 

10 

114 

3 

4,900 

700 

24,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

Mississippi  River  district  (shore  and  boat 
fisheries) 

719 
215 

649 
158 

70 
67 

9,500 
20,000 

Lake  Superior  district 

Tiansportinp;  vessels 

13 

199 

3 

3 

156 

10 
44 
3 

4,900 

14,000 

600 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

1  Exclusive  of  six  proprietors  not  fishing. 

•  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $4,200. 

Equijmient  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  statistics  of  the  investment  of  the 
state  in  fisheries,  including  the  value  of  vessels,  boats, 
and  apparatus  of  capture,  together  with  other  capital 
employed  in  1908: 


CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 


Total., 


Transporting  vessels  (steam  and  motor),  in- 
cluding outfit 


Outfit 

Boats 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

liow 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture ' 

Snore  and  accessory  property. . 
Cash 


VALUE    OF    EQUIPMENT   AND    OTHER 
capital:  1908. 


Total. 


$127,000 


16,000 
13,000 

3,200 
36,000 
23,000 

1,700 
10,000 

1,600 
43,000 
29,000 

4,200 


Alississippi 

River 

district. 


$46,000 


20,000 
14,000 


6,300 

700 

19,000 

6,600 


Lake 
Superior 
district. 


$81,000 


16,000 

13,000 

3,200 

16,000 

8,600 

1,700 

4,700 

800 

23,000 

22,000 

4,200 


The  four  transporting  vessels  on  the  Lake  Superior 
waters  were  steam  and  motor  craft.  The  rowboats 
were  divided  between  the  Mississippi  River  and  the 
Lake  Superior  fisheries  in  proportions  about  equal  to 
the  relative  size  of  their  respective  total  fleets.  All  of 
the  sailing  craft  reported  belonged  to  the  Lake  Supe- 
rior district. 

The  value  of  the  transporting  vessels  belonging  to 
the  Lake  Superior  district  makes  the  investment  in 
vessels  and  boats  in  that  district  much  higher  than  that 
in  the  Mississippi  River  district,  which  had  products  of 
a  greater  value. 

In  tlie  fisheries  of  the  Lake  Superior  district  39  per 
cent  of  the  capital  was  invested  in  floating  craft,  while 
29  per  cent  was  invested  in  apparatus  of  capture.  A 
httle  over  one-half  of  the  investment  in  vessels  and 
boats  represented  the  value  of  transporting  vessels. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  detailed  sta- 
tistics of  the  number  of  vessels  and  boats: 


VESSELS  and  boats:  1908. 

class  of  craft. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Lake 
Superior 
district. 

Total 

693 

482 

211 

Transporting  vessels ' 

4 

689 
82 
20 

677 
10 

4 
207 
18 
20 
165 
4 

Boats 

482 
64 

Steam  and  motor 

SaU 

Row 

412 
6 

other 

Tonnage,  45. 

A  large  increase  is  evident  in  the  total  value  of  the 
floating  craft  of  the  Lake  Superior  fisheries  in  1908,  as 
compared  with  1899,  when  the  value  was  only  $7,900. 
In  the  earlier  year  this  district  had  only  91  boats,  none 
of  which  were  motor  boats,  while  in  the  later  year  there 
were  211  boats,  of  which  18  were  power  boats.  In  the 
Mississippi  River  district  the  value  of  the  boats  was 
only  $3,000  in  1899,  and  in  that  year  only  263  boats 
were  reported,  as  compared  with  482  in  1908. 

The  total  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  was 
$43,000.  The  investment  of  the  Lake  Superior  dis- 
trict in  apparatus  of  capture  exceeded  that  of  the 
Mississippi  River  district,  and  was  confined  to  gill  nets, 
lines,  and  pound  nets.  In  the  interior  waters  of  the 
state,  except  for  a  few  dip  nets,  only  hand  lines  and 
spears  were  reported.  In  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment detailed  statistics  concerning  the  number  of 
various  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture  are  given : 


'  AU  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


apparatus  of  capture:  1908. 

KIND. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Lake 
Superior 
district. 

Dip  nets 

34 

234 

1,288 

162 

86 

212 

6 

43 

1,980 

34 

234 

29 

77 

86 

212 

6 

43 

1,980 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Gill  nets 

1,2.59 
86 

Pound  nets 

Seines 

Spears,  etc 

Trammel  nets 

Traps,  frog 

Traps,  mink  and  muskrat 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


175 


Products,  by  species. — The  fishery  products  of  the 
state  in  1908  are  distributed  by  species  and  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture  in  Table  1,  on  pa^e  177.  The  total 
of  7,475,000  pounds,  valued  at  $192,000,  represents  a 
large  increase  over  the  products  in  1899,  the  latest  year 
prior  to  1908  for  which  complete  data  for  the  state  as  a 
whole  are  available.  In  1899  the  total  yield,  as  re- 
ported by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  was  only  1,931,000 
pounds,  with  a  value  of  $55,000.  The  year  1899,  how- 
ever, is  an  unfavorable  year  for  comparison  because 
of  the  fact  that  restrictive  legislation  recently  passed 
had  caused  a  temporary  decline  in  the  fishery  activi- 
ties of  the  state.  A  more  correct  conception  of  the 
rate  of  decrease  may  be  obtained  from  a  comparison 
of  the  figures  for  1908  with  those  given  in  the  report 
of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  1894,  which  showed  the 
fishery  products  of  the  Mississippi  River  district  of  the 
state  alone  in  that  year  to  be  6,401,000  pounds. 

The  catch  of  fish  proper  in  1908  amounted  in  the 
aggregate  to  6,616,000  pounds,  or  89  per  cent  of  the 
total  weight  of  all  fishery  products,  and  was  valued  at 
$173,000,  or  90  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  such 
products. 

Products,  hy  fisTiing  grounds. — The  products  of  the 
Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries  and  those  of  the 
Lake  Superior  district  for  1908  are  given  in  detail,  by 
species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  Tables  2  and  3, 
on  pages  177  and  178,  respectively. 

The  catch  of  the  Mississippi  River  district  amounted 
to  3,674,000  pounds  and  had  a  value  of  $109,000, 
while  the  catch  of  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Superior 
amounted  to  3,802,000  pounds,  valued  at  $83,000.  In 
the  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributa- 
ries the  value  of  fish  proper  constituted  82  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  total  product,  while  in  the  Lake  Supe- 
rior district  the  entire  product  was  fish  proper.  Of  the 
value  of  fish,  48  per  cent  was  reported  for  the  Lake 
Superior  fisheries  and  52  per  cent  for  the  Mississippi 
River  fisheries.  The  most  important  product  of  the 
Mississippi  River  district  was  German  carp,  for  which 
a  value  of  $26,000,  or  24  per  cent  of  the  total  for 
the  district,  was  reported,  although  the  value  of  the 
buffalo-fish  product  was  nearly  as  great. 

In  the  Lake  Superior  district  herring  was  the  prin- 
cipal product,  with  a  value  of  $38,000,  or  46  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  the  products  of  this  district. 

The  next  tabular  statement  gives  the  distribution 
of  the  value  of  fishery  products,  according  to  species 
and  districts. 

The  quantity  and  value  of  the  products  taken  by  the 
fisheries  of  the  Lake  Superior  waters  show  a  gradual 
increase,  according  to  the  reports  of  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries.  The  Lake  Superior  products  amounted  to 
183,000  pounds,  valued  at  $6,200,  in  1890;  609,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $14,000,  in  1899;  and  2,176,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $45,000,  in  1903. 


VALUE 

or  PBODUCTS:  1908. 

SPECIES, 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Lake 
Superior 
district. 

t 

Total 

»192,000 

1109,000 

183,000 

Fish 

173,000 
38,000 
26,000 
22,000 
14,000 
12,000 
12,000 
11,000 
11,000 
10,000 
15,000 
8,400 
7,900 
2,900 

90,000 

83,000 
38,000 

Lake  herring 

Carp,  German 

26,000 

22,000 

14,000 

1,100 

Buffalo  lish 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Lake  trout 

12,000 
6,400 
5  100 

5.800 
5,900 

Pike  and  pickerel 

WhiteQsh 

10,000 
1,000 

Another 

14,000 
8,400 
7,900 
2,900 

Mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs 

FroRs 

All  other 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  the  distribution 
of  the  value  of  products  of  the  Lake  Superior  district 
in  1908  is  shown,  by  species  and  by  waters: 


VALtra:  or  PRODUCTS  OF   LAKE   SUPERIOR 

district:  1908. 

SPECtES. 

Total. 

Lake 
Superior. 

Lake  of 

the 
Woods. 

Rainy- 
Lake. 

Total 

$83,000 

S50,000 

127,000 

le.aoo 

Lake  herring 

38,000 
12,000 
11,000 
10,000 
6,400 
6,100 
1,000 

38,000 
12,000 

Pike  perch 

9,500 
8,000 
6,000 
4,000 

Whlteflsh... 

20O 

2,200 
300 

Sturgeon  and  caviar 

1  100 

All  other 

800 

200 

It  appears  that  lake  herring  and  lake  trout  were 
the  only  fish  caught  in  any  considerable  quantity  in 
Lake  Superior  itself.  All  of  the  pike  perch,  sturgeon, 
pike,  and  pickerel,  and  nearly  aU  of  the  whitefish  re- 
ported for  the  Lake  Superior  district  were  obtained 
from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods  and  Rainy  Lake. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  distribution 
of  products,  by  kind  of  apparatus  used  and  by  fishery 
districts,  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Seines 

Gill  nets 

Pound  nets 

Lines 

Crowfoot  dredges,  etc 

Frog,  mink,  and  muskrat  traps. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

All  other 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


tl92,000 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


»109,000 


53.000 
1,500 
10.000 
21,000 
8,300 
2,800 
2,800 
9,800 


Lake 
Superior 
district. 


$83,000 


48,000 

33,000 

1,600 


On  the  basis  of  the  value  of  products  taken,  seines, 
gill  nets,  and  pound  nets  were  the  most  important 
forms  of  apparatus  of  capture,  the  value  of  their  catch 
together  constituting  three-fourths  of  the  total  value 
of  all  products.     For  the  Lake  Superior  waters  the 


176 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


products  caught  by  means  of  gill  nets  and  pound  nets 
had  a  value  equal  to  98  per  cent  of  that  of  all  products. 
On  tlie  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaries,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  catch  by  gill  nets  was  small  and  the 
catch  by  pound  nets  was  valued  at  less  than  one- 
fourth  of  the  total  value  of  products  caught  by  pound 
nets  in  the  state.  Lines  were  the  only  other  form  of 
apparatus  of  capture  used  in  the  Lake  Superior  dis- 
trict. Only  7  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  products 
caught  by  lines  contributed  to  the  catch  from  these 
waters.  In  the  interior  waters  of  the  Mississippi 
River  district,  on  the  other  hand,  where  only  hand 
lines  and  spears  were  allowed  by  law,  lines  formed  an 
important  means  of  capture.  Almost  one-fifth  of  the 
value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  Mississippi  River 
district  represented  the  value  of  product  caught  by 
hand  fines. 

Principal  species. — Lake  herring,  taken  wholly  in 
Lake  Superior,  formed  the  most  important  fishery 
product  of  the  state,  contributing  20  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  aU  fishery  products.  A  part  of  the  lake- 
herring  catch  was  sold  fresh  at  a  valuation  of  $21,000, 
while  the  remainder,  which  was  sold  salted  and  smoked, 
brought  $18,000.  This  fish  was  caught  entirely  by 
means  of  gill  nets. 

The  entire  catches  of  German  carp,  buffalo  fish,  and 
catfish  were  taken  in  the  Mississippi  River  and  its 
tributaries.  The  buffalo  fish  and  the  catfish  have 
been  steadily  declining  in  nvunbers  during  the  past  few 
years,  and  the  carp  has  been  taking  a  higher  place  in 
this  state,  as  in  the  other  states  along  the  Mississippi 
and  Missouri  Rivers.  No  carp  were  caught  in  1894 
and  a  quantity  valued  at  only  $900  was  taken  in  1899, 
while  in  1908  over  a  milfion  pounds,  valued  at  $26,000, 


were  reported,  and  carp  ranked  second  among  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state. 

Some  pike  percli  were  caught  in  the  tributary  lakes 
of  the  Mississippi  River,  but  over  nine-tenths  of  the 
value  reported  for  this  fish  was  reported  from  the 
Lake  Superior  waters.  All  of  the  lake  trout  came 
from  the  Lake  Superior  fisheries.  Sturgeon  came  from 
the  Mississippi  River  and  also  from  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods  and  Rainy  Lake,  which,  while  included  in  the 
Lake  Superior  system,  did  not  come  under  the  statute 
prohibiting  the  taking  of  sturgeon  from  Lake  Superior. 
The  pike  and  pickerel  caught  were  secured  from  the 
Lake  of  the  Woods  and  Rainy  Lake,  and  from  the 
tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  River.  The  whitefish 
were  caught  in  the  Lake  Superior  waters  only. 

The  mussel-shell  and  pearl  industry  lias  become  an 
important  branch  of  the  Mississippi  River  fisheries 
during  the  past  few  years.  The  industry  was  not 
mentioned  in  tlie  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for 
1894,  and  its  product  amounted  to  only  $200  in  value 
in  1899,  but  in  1908  products  valued  at  $8,400  were 
reported.  The  value  of  pearls  and  slugs  secured  inci- 
dentally in  the  pursuit  of  the  mussel-shell  industry 
represented  $3,700,  or  44  per  cent  of  the  value  of 
mussel-shell  products  in  1908. 

The  frog  mdustry,  carried  on  in  the  tributary  waters 
of  the  Mississippi,  is  also  of  recent  development,  having 
been  started  about  1895.  In  1899  a  product  of  92,000 
poimds,  valued  at  $9,600,  was  reported,  and  in  1908, 
66,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,900.  The  1908  product, 
though  somewhat  smaller  in  quantity  and  value  than 
that  secured  in.  1899,  represented  nearly  20  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  the  capture  in  the  United  States  and 
was  surpassed  only  by  the  capture  in  Missouri. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— MINNESOTA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


177 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES, 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Pound  nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  appa-  . 
ratus.t 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

7,475,000 

tl92,000 

1,884,000 

153,000 

2,991,000 

$50,000 

1,198,000 

144,000 

426,000 

$22,000 

51,000 

$2,800 

926,000 

$21,000 

Fish: 

1,900 

664,000 

1,132,000 

208,000 

97,000 

1,200 

333,000 

800 

1,608,000 

1,165,000 

4,000 

188,000 
27,000 

7,400 
351,000 
273,000 

5,100 

164,000 

100 

76,000 

66,000 

205,000 

1,400 

36,000 

1,000 

66,000 

25,000 

767,000 

3200 

•1,700 

400 

22,000 

26,000 

14,000 

6,000 

(.') 

4,000 

100 

21,000 

18,000 

200 

10,000 
1,500 

200 
11,000 
12,000 

200 

11,000 

100 

800 

2,300 

10,000 

700 
100 

7,900 
000 
8,400 
1,100 
1,200 

1,500 

499,000 

1,027,000 

43,000 

2,300 

1,200 
120,000 

400 

16,000 

24.000 

2,800 

200 

400 
900 

15,000 
140,000 

95,000 

400 
8,800 
5,800 

Buffalo  fish     

4,i66 

6,100 
700 

200 
200 
100 

146,000 

21,000 

4,000 

5,800 
500 
400 

7,300 
15,000 
20,000 

300 

400 
1,800 

6,700 
48,000 

200 

1,100 

Dofffish 

1,000 

(=) 

204,000 

3,000 

6,300 
500 

100 

1,600 
300 

h 

1,608,000 

1,165,000 

4,000 

138,000 
23,000 

21,000 

18,000 

200 

7,500 
1,300 

25,000 
1,200 

1,400 
100 

25,000 
3,100 
6,000 
63,000 
13,000 
6,100 

1,000 

1,300 
200 
100 

2,300 
900 
200 

100 

1,400 
40,000 

2!'^ 

Pike  and  pickerel 

8,000 
2,900 

300 
200 

210,000 
256,000 

5,100 
11,000 

3,900 

200 

25,000 
700 

900 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

(') 

94,000 

4,800 

13,000 

100 

5,000 

700 
100 

55,000 

5,400 

500 

(') 

23,000 
16,000 

400 
500 

43,000 

300 

400 
50,000 

1,800 

5,100 

10 

Whitpfi<ih 

4,900 
1,400 
4,000 
1,000 

300 

m 
100 
100 

200,000 

10,000 

1 

Whitpfish  fhltiefinl 

31,000 

600 

WhiteHsh  (Menominee),  salted . 

1 

66,000 

6,000 

767,000 

'200 

•1,700 

7,900 

16,000 

400 

1,000 

(») 

2,900 

100 

100 

Mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs 

8,400 

1 

1,100 

■"   ■            1 

1,200 

1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges,  etc.,  743,000  pounds,  valued  at  $8,300;  mink,  muskrat,  and  frog  traps,  5,700  pounds,  valued  at  $2,800; 
spears,  etc.,  4C.,tXI0  pounds,  valued  at  $1,000;  trammel  nets,  42,000  pounds,  valued  at  $900;  dip  nets,  3,100  pounds,  valued  at  $300;  and  minor  apparatus,  86,000  pounds,  valued 
8t$7,000. 

1  Less  than  $100.  •  300  skins.  '  5,000  skins. 

Table  2.— MINNESOTA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Pound  nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.i 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Total 

3,674,000 

$109,000 

1,884,000 

$53,000 

28,000 

$1,500 

388,000 

$10,000 

398,000 

$21,000 

61,000 

$2,800 

926,000 

$21,000 

Fish: 

1,900 

664,000 

1,132,000 

208,000 

97,000 

1,200 

333,000 

800 

7,400 
138,000 

15,000 
5,100 
109,000 
100 
36,000 
66,000 

66,000 

25,000 

767,000 

400 

22,000 

20,000 

14,000 

0,000 

(') 

4,000 
100 
200 

6,900 

1,100 
200 

6,700 
100 
600 

2,300 

7,900 
600 
4,700 
3,700 
1,100 
1,200 

1,500 

499,000 

1,027,000 

43,000 

2,300 

1,200 
120,000 

400 

16,000 

24,000 

2,800 

200 

1,500 

400 

900 

15,000 

140,000 

95,000 

h 

400 
8,800 
5,800 

Buffalo 

4,100 

6,100 

700 

200 
200 
100 

146,000 

21,000 

4,000 

6,800 
600 
400 

7.300 
15,000 
20,000 

300 

400 

1,800 

6,700 
48,000 

200 

1,100 

1,000 

(') 

204,000 

3,000 

0,300 

500 

6,000 

63,000 

13,000 
5,100 
1,000 

100 
(») 

100 
2,300 

900 
200 
100 

1,500 
300 

Eels 

1,400 
40,000 

2% 

Pike  and  pickerel 

3,300 
900 

200 
100 

2,100 

100 

3,900 

200 

25,000 
700 

900 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

(«) 

94,000 

4,800 

12,000 
100 

600 
100 

2,000 

100 

600 

O 

23,000 
16,000 

400 
500 

6,800 

100 

400 
60,000 

1,800 

6,100 

100 

. 

66,000 

6,000 

767.000 

7,900 

Turtles 

15,000 

400 

1,000 

(') 

2,900 

100 

100 

4,700 

3,700 

•200 
•1,700 

•200 
•1,700 

1,100 

"       ■           "" 

1,200 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredees,  etc.,  743,000  pounds,  valued  at  ».8,.'i00;  mink,  muskrat.  and  frog  traps,  5,700  pounds,  valued  at  $2,800: 
spears,  etc.,  40,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1 ,000;  trammel  nets,  42,000  pounds,  valued  at  $900;  dip  nets,  3,100  pounds,  valued  at  $300;  and  minor  apparatus,  86,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $7,000. 

•  Less  than  $100.  •  300  skins.  •  5,000  skins. 


76786°— 11- 


-12 


178 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Table  3.— MINNESOTA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  DISTRICT:    1908. 


Total 

Lake  herring,  fresh 

Lake  herring,  salted 

Lake  herring,  smoked 

Lake  trout,  fresh 

Lake  trout,  salted 

Pike  and  pickerel 

Pike  percli  (wall-eyed  pike) . . . 

Sturgeon 

Suckers 

Whitefish 

Whitefish  (bluefln) 

Whlteflsh  (longjaw) 

Whitefish  (Menominee),  salted 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


3,802,000 


1,608.000 
1,165,000 
4,000 
188,000 
27,000 
213,000 
258,000 

54.000 
41,000 

205.000 

1.400 

35,000 

1,000 


Value. 


$83,000 


21,000 

18,000 
200 

10,000 
1,500 
5,100 

11.000 

5,400 
200 

10,000 

(') 
700 
100 


PBODCCT  CAUGHT  BY — 


GUI  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


2,963.000 


Value. 


»48,000  I 


Pound  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


811,000 


1,608,000 

1,165,000 

4,000 

138.000 

23,000 

5,000 

2,000 

1,000 
5.000 

4,900 
1,400 
4,000 
1.000 


21,000 

18.000 

200 

7.500 

1,300 

100 

100 

100 

(') 

300 

(>) 

100 

100 

25,000 

1,200 
208  000 
256,000 

63.000 
36,000 

200,000 


31,000 


Value. 


$33,000 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


.1. 


1,400 

100 

5.O00 

11.000 

5,300 
200 


28,000 


25,000 
3,100 


Value. 


$1,500 


1,300 
200 


■  Less  than  $100. 


MISSISSIPPI. 

The  fisheries  of  Mississippi  may  be  grouped  in  two 
divisions,  including,  respectively,  the  fisheries  of  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  and  those  of  the  Mississippi  River  and 
its  tributaries.  Of  the  total  value  of  the  state  product 
in  1908,  the  Gulf  fisheries  contributed  82  per  cent. 
Biloxi  is  a  center  for  the  wholesale  dealers  and  the 
canners,  and  here  oysters  and  shrimps  are  both 
canned  and  prepared  for  shipment  fresh,  in  large 
quantities. 

The  following  statement  presents  a  summary  of 
the  chief  statistics  for  the  state  fisheries  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 2, 037 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $418, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 58, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 46, 000 

Value  of  products 556, 000 

Comparison  with,  previous  canvasses. — A  slight  falling 
off  in  the  number  of  persons  employed  is  shown  for 
each  district  in  1908,  as  compared  with  the  last  can- 
vass, as  well  as  a  decrease  in  the  quantity  and  in 
the  value  of  the  product.  An  increase,  however,  is 
to  be  noted  in  the  investment  in  equipment  for  each 
district. 

The  decline  in  the  products  of  the  Gulf  fisheries  in 
late  years  is  not  due  entirely  to  natural  causes,  but  is 
to  be  attributed,  in  part,  to  a  recent  decision  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  by  which  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  oyster  and  other  fishing  grounds 
about  Pear  Island  was  transferred  from  Mississippi  to 
Louisiana. 

The  following  tabular  statement  presents  for  each 
district  comparative  statistics  as  to  persons  employed, 
value  of  equipment,  and  products,  as  returned  at  the 
canvass  of  1908  and  certain  earlier  canvasses: 


Per- 
sons 
em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE   OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

DISTRICT  AND  YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

Appa- 
ratus of 
cap- 
ture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Gulf  of  Mexico  district: 

1908... 

1,,55S 

1,787 

1,061 

690 

493 

476 
489 
367 

$422,000 

385,000 

143,000 

73,000 

50,000 

53,000 
33,000 
11,000 

$385,000 

346,000 

124,000 

62,000 

43,000 

33,000 
14,0(JO 
3,600 

$38,000 

39,000 

19,000 

10.000 

7.000 

20.000 
19,000 
7,700 

17,302,000 
23,427,000 
7.8.30,000 
8,1.31.000 
6.548,000 

3.245,000 
3,921,000 
2,214,000 

$459,000 
553,000 
192  000 

1902 

1897 

1890 

24fi, 000 

1887... 

190,000 

97,000 
98.000 

Mississippi    River    dis- 
trict: 
1908. . . 

1899 

1894 

66,000 

Persons  employed. — The  following  table  gives  sta- 
tistics of  persons  emploj'ed  in  the  fisheries  of  Mississippi 
in  1908: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Total. 

Number. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

Inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Wage- 
earners. 

W^es. 

Total 

2,037 

1989 

1,048 

'$309,000 

878 

68 

1,085 

6 

18 
3 

968 

860 

65 

117 

6 

259,000 
27,000 
18,000 
5,300 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

Oulf  of  Mexico  district 

1,561 

624 

937 

289,000 

868 

55 

632 

6 

476 

18 

1 
605 

850 
54 
27 
6 

HI 

258,000 
21,000 

Shore  and  l)oat  fisheries 

4,400 
5,300 

20,000 

Mississippi  River  district 

365 

Transporting  vei'sels  ^ 

13 
463 

2 
3S3 

11 
100 

6,400 
14,000 

Shore  and  boat  fislieries     .  . 

'  Exclusive  of  47  proprietors  not  fishing. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  S43,000. 

•  Includes. crew  of  one  vessel  engaged  In  fishing. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


179 


Wage-earners  slightly  outnumbered  proprietors  and 
independent  fishermen.  Of  the  wage-earners,  89  per 
cent  were  employed  in  the  Gulf  fisheries,  and  of  the 
wage-earners  in  this  district,  91  per  cent  were  em- 
ployed in  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  low  ratio  of  wage- 
earners  to  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  in 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  the  absence  of  salaried 
employees,  and  the  small  average  sum  paid  to  employees 
make  plain  the  small  scale  on  which  this  class  of  fish- 
eries is  conducted  in  Mississippi. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  table 
shows  the  distribution  of  the  investment  in  the  fish- 
eries of  the  state : 


VALUE  OF   EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER 
capital:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Mississippi 
River 

district. 

S522,000 

$461,000 

$81,000 

372,000 

326,000 

4.400 

3,700 

700 

322,000 

275,000 

47,000 

45,000 

30,000 

26,000 

4,200 

15,000 

11,000 

3,100 

400 

46,000 

16,000 

14,000 

17,000 

58,000 

20,000 

31,000 

34,000 

12,000 

358,000 

326,000 

4,400 

3,700 

700 

322,000 

275,000 

47,000 

32,000 

17,000 

15,000 

2,400 

15,000 

11,000 

3,100 

13,000 

Vessels         

Outfit                                        

Sail                         

Outfit 

13.000 

13,000 

11,000 

1,800 

Sail                                      

400 

27,000 
5,000 
14,000 
7,900 
38,000 
25,000 
13,000 
27,000 
12,000 

20,000 

111,000 

Sail                                             

Row                  

8,700 

20,000 

1,400 

19,000 

7,300 

Cash                                   

300 

I  Includes  the  value  of  one  vessel  engaged  in  fishing. 

Over  three-fifths  of  the  total  investment  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  state  represented  the  value  of  the  sail 
fisliing  vessels  and  their  outfits.  All  the  shore  and 
accessory  property  and  cash  capital  reported,  with 
trifling  exceptions,  pertained  to  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  total  investment  was  distributed  in  the 
following  manner:  $353,000  in  vessel  fisheries;  $45,000 
in  transporting  vessels  and  $124,000  in  shore  and  boat 
fisheries. 

Detailed  statistics  of  the  number  and  tonnage  of  the 
vessels  and  the  number  of  the  boats  are  given  in  the 
next  table. 

In  the  vessel  fisheries  all  but  two  of  the  craft  were 
saihng  vessels.  Among  transporting  vessels  steam 
and  motor  craft  equal  saiUng  craft  in  number,  but  the 
value  of  the  former  was  more  than  double  that  of  the 
latter.  The  fisheries  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  were 
credited  with  the  entire  investment  in  fishing  vessels, 
except  the  value  of  one  vessel  of  11  tons  engaged  in 
fishing  in  the  Missisippi  River  district.  The  trans- 
porting vessels  used  in  the  Gulf  district  were  valued  at 
$32,000,  and  the  boats  used  in  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries of  the  same  district  were  valued  at  $27,000. 


class  or  CBATt. 


Vessels,  number 

Fishing,  number 

Steam  and  motor — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Transporting,  number  . 
Steam  and  motor — 

Number 

Totmage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

other,  number 

Boats,  number 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:   1908. 


Total. 


206 

187 


184 

2,145 

19 


128 
3 
1,144 
69 
119 
956 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 


199 

186 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


1 

11 


184 

2,145 
13 

5 

74 

8 

8 

3 

64 

128 

3 

647 
U 
119 

497 
68 

517 

439 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  details  of  the 
number  of  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture 
used : 


APPAKATC3  OF  CAPTUKE:    1908. 

KIND. 

Total. 

Distributed  by 
districts. 

Distributed  by  class 
of  fisheries. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 

Missis- 

IPv^e'r 
district. 

Vessel 
flshcries. 

Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

71 

1,710 

2 

135 

1,160 

116 

136 

71 

71 

1,710 

2 

25 

1,150 

30 

1,680 

2 

110 

90 

45 

1,150 

116 
135 

116 

Trammel  nets 

1 

25 

HI 

Products,  hy  species. — Table  1,  on  page  182,  gives  the 
quantity  and  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  Missis- 
sippi, by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  product  in  1908  consisted 
of  moUusks  and  crustaceans.  The  oyster  yield  was 
more  valuable  than  all  the  rest  of  the  catch,  and  the 
shrimp  product  had  a  total  value  almost  equal  to  half 
the  value  of  all  fish  proper.  The  total  fish  catch 
amounted  to  8,520,000  pounds,  valued  at  $164,000. 
Buffalo  fish  and  sea  trout  were  the  leading  species, 
while  mullet,  catfish,  and  paddlefish  followed. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — Table  2,  on  page  183, 
shows,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  the 
weight  and  value  of  the  product  taken  in  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  district  by  Mississippi  fishermen,  and  Table  3 
gives  similar  detailed  statistics  for  the  Mississippi  River 
district.  The  value  re])orted  for  the  principal  species 
taken  in  the  two  districts  is  shown  in  the  next  tabu- 
lar statement. 

The  fishery  product  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  district 
contributed  82  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  prod- 
uct of  the  state.  Oysters  ranked  first,  with  a  value 
forming  64  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  from 
tliis  district,  and  shrimp  ranked  second,  witli  a  value 
equal  to  15  per  cent  of  the  total.     Of  fish  proper,  the 


180 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


catch  reported  for  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  fisheries  was 
5,413,000  pounds,  valued  at  $78,000.  This  value 
represents  17  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery 
products  of  the  Gulf  district,  and  is  smaller  than  the 
corresponding  v^alue  for  the  Mississippi  Kiver  district. 
The  bulk  of  the  catch  of  fish  proper  was  composed  of 
two  low-priced  species,  menhaden  and  mullet;  but 
squeteague  led  in  value,  followed  by  mullet. 


Total 

Fish 

Buffalo  fish 

Squeteague 

Mullet 

Catfish 

Paddleflsh 

Channel  bass,  or  rcdfch 

Drum,  fresh-water 

All  other 

Oysters 

Shrimp 

Another 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$556,000 


164,000 
34,000 
28,000 
20,000 
19,000 
14,000 
10,000 
6,600 
31,000 

295,000 
81,000 
17,000 


Gulf  of 
Mexico 
district. 


1459,000 


78,000 


28,000 

20,000 

600 


10,000 
100 
19,000 
295,000 
69,000 
17,000 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


$97,000 


86,000 
34,000 


19,000 
14,000 


6,500 
12,000 


11,000 


The  value  of  the  fishery  product  from  the  Mississippi 
River  district  amounted  to  17  per  cent  of  the  value  of 
the  total  state  product.  Except  for  a  small  shrimp 
catch,  the  entire  product  consisted  of  fish  proper.  The 
quantity  of  fish  proper  taken  in  this  district  was 
smaller  than  that  taken  in  the  Gulf  district,  which 
formed  64  per  cent  of  the  total  weight,  but,  as  already 
stated,  the  value  of  the  river  catch  was  greater. 
Buffalo  fish  was  the  leading  species,  contributing  over 
one-half  of  the  weight  and  over  one-third  of  the  value 
of  the  Mississippi  River  product.  Catfish  ranked  next 
in  quantity  and  value,  and  was  closely  foUowed  by 
paddlefish  and  paddlefish  caviar. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — Table  4,  on  page  184, 
gives  statistics  of  the  weight  and  value,  by  species  and 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  of  the  product  taken  by  the 
vessel  fisheries  of  Mississippi  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
and  Table  5,  on  page  184,  gives  similar  statistics  for 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  same  district. 
Oysters  contributed  50  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
product  taken  by  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Gulf 
district.  The  fish  proper  reported  by  this  class  of 
fisheries  had  a  value  of  $50,000,  squeteague  being  the 
leading  fish  with  respect  to  value,  and  mullet  ranking 
second.  The  catch  of  crabs  made  in  the  Gulf  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  which  comprised  the  entire  crab 
product  of  Mississippi,  ranked  next  to  the  mullet 
product  in  value. 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the 
value  of  products  reported  for  the  state  as  a  whole 
and  for  each  class  of  fisheries,  by  species  arranged  in 
order  of  value : 


SPECIES. 

VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$556,000 

$302,000 

$255,000 

Fish 

164,000 
34,000 
28,000 
20,000 
19.000 
18,000 
10,000 
6,000 
27,000 

295,000 

81,000 

1.5,000 

1,300 

30,000 
900 
9,200 
0,200 
100 
1,800 
4,200 

133  000 

Buffalo  fish 

Soueteague,  or  sea  trout 

19  000 

Mullet 

Catfish 

19,000 
16,000 
6  100 

Paddleflsh  and  paddlefish  caviar 

Channel  bass,  or  redfish 

All  other 

7,900 

215.000 

56,000 

19,000 

Shrimp 

24  000 

Crabs 

Ail  other 

200 

1  100 

With  the  exception  of  one  vessel  of  11  tons,  all  of 
the  Mississippi  River  fisheries  were  of  the  shore  and 
boat  class. 

Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — Fyke  and  hoop 
nets,  pound  nets,  and  shrimp  traps  were  used  exclu- 
sively in  the  Mississippi  River  district,  and  cast  nets, 
slirimp  nets,  and  dredges  and  tongs,   exclusively  in 
the  Gulf  district,  while  seines,  trammel  nets,  and  lines 
were  common  to  both  districts. 

The  total  value  of  products  for  the  state,  distributed 
by  apparatus  of  capture  and  by  fishery  districts,  is 
shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 

KIND  OP  APPAEATUa. 

VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

Total. 

Gull  of 
Me.xieo 
district. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Total 

$550,000 

$459,000 

$97  000 

295,000 
108,000 
67,000 
40,000 
40,000 
12.000 
4,700 

295,000 
82,000 
56,000 

Trammel  nets 

600 

Lines 

21,000 

19  000 

f^hrimp  nets  and  traps    , 

12  000 

Another 

3,400 

1  200 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the  total 
value  of  products  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  each 
class  of  fisheries  by  apparatus  of  capture,  arranged  in 
the  order  of  value  of  their  catch : 

KIND   OF   APPAEATU3. 

vALtra:  of  products:  1908. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total          

$556,000 

$302,000 

$255  000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc ... 

295,000 
108,000 
57,000 
40,000 
40,000 
12,000 
4,700 

215,  (XH) 
67,000 
20,000 

81  000 

40,000 

Trammel  nets.          

37  000 

40,000 

40  000 

12,000 

All  other 

4,700 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


181 


Oysters. — The  oyster  product,  all  of  which  was  taken 
m  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  district,  mostly  by  vessel  fisher- 
men, contributed  53  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  state 
fishery  products.  The  oysters  taken  by  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  brought  a  price  considerably  higher  than 
that  received  for  the  product  of  the  vessel  fisheries, 
the  average  price  bemg  46  cents  per  bushel  for  the 
former,  as  against  24  cents  for  the  latter.  Oyster 
farming  was  followed  to  a  very  limited  extent,  less 
than  1  per  cent  of  the  total  oyster  product  being  from 
private  areas.  The  entire  oyster  product  in  1908  was 
much  smaller  than  in  1902,  but  compared  with  the 
yield  in  previous  years,  must  bo  considered  unusually 
large.  The  following  statement  gives  statistics  of  the 
oyster  product  for  1908  and  for  previous  canvasses: 


YEAR. 

OYSTER  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908                     

1,068,000 

2,405,000 

630,000 

806,000 

681,000 

25,000 

1295,000 

1902                                     

426,000 

111,000 

1890                                         

107,000 

1887                              

119,000 

1880                                            

10,000 

Shrimp. — Shrimp  are  taken  in  Mississippi  in  larger 
quantities  than  in  any  other  state  except  Louisiana. 
They  represented  1 5  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the 
state  product,  and  were  taken  in  both  the  Mississippi 
River  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  districts.  Only  3  per 
cent  of  the  total  shrimp  product  was  taken  in  the 
Mississippi  River  district,  but  this  small  portion 
contributed  14  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  The  vessel 
fisheries  of  the  Gulf  took  a  quantity  valued  at  70  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  state.  The  product  of 
the  Gulf  was  taken  almost  exclusively  with  seines, 
while  in  the  Mississippi  River  shrimp  traps  were  the 
form  of  apparatus  of  capture  used.  In  quantity  the 
shrimp  catch  of  1908  shows  a  decrease  compared  with 
that  of  1902,  but  an  increase  over  years  prior  thereto. 
In  value,  however,  the  shrimp  product  has  increased 
steadily  since  1890,  as  is  shown  by  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


YEAR. 

SHRIMP    PRODUCT    OF 
GULP     OP     MEXICO 
DISTRICT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

3,983,000 
4,424,000 
1,903,000 
614,000 
1,145,000 

S09,000 

1902 

58,000 

1897 

29,000 

1890                                                                      

13,000 

1887 

24,000 

Buffalo  fish. — This  fish  was  the  leading  species  of 
fish  proper,  and  was  taken  almost  exclusively  in  the 
Mississippi  River  district,  where  it  contributed  35 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  product.  Fyke  and 
hoop  nets  were  the  principal  forms  of  apparatus  of 
capture  used.  The  catch  of  buffalo  fish  in  1908, 
although  about  double  that  of  1894,  shows  a  decrease 
compared  with  1899.  Statistics  of  the  catch  of 
buffalo  fish  in  the  Mississippi  River  district  for  1894, 
1899,  and  1908  are  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement: 


.YEAR. 

BUFFALO-PISH      PROD- 
UCT OF     MLSSISSIPPI 
RIVER  DISTRICT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                

1,664,000 

2,023,000 

848,000 

J34,000 
34,000 

1899                                                          

1894     .            

15,000 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout. — The  catch  of  squeteague 
has  increased  constantly  in  quantity,  as  reported  at 
the  various  canvasses,  and  of  late  years,  in  value,  as 
is  shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement : 


TEAB. 

SQUETEAGUE 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

617,000 
473,000 
453,000 
372,000 
258,000 

J28,000 

1902             

18,000 
16,000 
18,000 

1897 

1890                     

1887 

12,000 

Other  products. — Mullet  contributed  4  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  state  product.  This  species,  almost 
the  entire  catch  of  which  was  taken  with  trammel 
nets,  ranked  tliird  in  value  among  the  fish  products 
proper  of  the  state,  and  second  among  those  of  the 
Gulf  district.  During  recent  years  the  mullet  product 
has  increased  greatly  in  both  quantity  and  value,  as 
is  indicated  by  the  following  tabular  statement: 


MULLET  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                              

1,035,000 
600,000 
241,000 
305,000 
233,000 
1,600 

120,000 

1902 

10,000 

1897                                            

2,900 

1890 : 

3,500 

1887                                     .              

2,600 

1880 

100 

182 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Catfish  were  taken  almost  entirely  by  shore  and 
boat  fishermen,  and  practically  all  of  the  catch  came 
from  the  Mississippi  River  district.  They  are  caught 
chiefly  with  Hnes.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  statistics  of  the  catch  of  the  Mississippi 
River  district  as  reported  at  the  canvasses  of  1894, 
1899,  and  1908: 


TEAS. 

CATFISH    PRODUCT    OF 
MISSISSIPPI        RIVEB 
DISTEICT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

471,000 
397,000 
852,000 

S19,000 
14,000 
24,000 

1899 

1894 

Table  1.— MISSISSIPPI— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PBODDCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds'). 

Value. 

Total 

20,547,000 

J566,000 

8,118,000 

$108,000 

1,839,000 

$57,000 

1,766,000 

$40,000 

1,022,000 

$40,000 

7,802.000 

$312,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

15,000 

IS,  000 

1,664,000 

26,000 

502,000 

89,000 
176,000 
337,000 

244,000 

38,000 

3,149,000 

1,035,000 

463,000 

4,100 

4,600 
12,000 

9,200 
81,000 

6,900 

7,100 

71,000 

617,000 

3,200 

20,000 

14,000 

12,000 

1,700 

380,000 

47,000 

4,121,000 

5,100 

2,200 

•7,423,000 

6  60,000 

1,000 
800 

34,000 
500 

19,000 

4,800 
3,700 
6,600 

11,000 

2,000 
3,900 
20,000 
14,000 
4,000 

400 
700 
200 
4,300 
200 

500 

1,300 

28,000 

200 

400 
600 
400 
100 

9,800 

5,600 

81,000 

1,200 

100 

292,000 

3,800 

2,000 

4,900 

421,000 

12,000 

64,000 

28,000 

■       37,000 

59,000 

41,000 

2,300 

3,149,000 

41,000 

209,000 

3,900 

1,200 

200 
200 

9,600 
300 

2,100 

1,500 

700 

1,200 

1,800 

100 
3,900 

800 
6,800 
3,800 

100 

200 
13,000 
12,000 

600 
200 

13,000 
35,000 

800 
700 

Blueflsh 

Buffalo  fish 

1,154,000 
14,000 
71,000 

11,000 

23,666 

200 

3,100 

700 

42,000 

800 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

22,000 

100 

100,000 

2,200 

185,000 

7,200 

500 

973,000 

1,000 

600 
2,000 

n 

8,200 

300 

18,000 

350,000 

60,000 
25,000 
18,000 

17,000 

100 

13,000 

2,600 
600 
400 

800 

m 

6,000 

200 

Crappie 

Croaker 

14,000 
13,000 

1,500 

28,000 

300 

244,000 

4,800 

Drum  (salt-water),  channel 

Mullet 

22,666 

400 

Paddleflsh 

263,000 
200 

7,500 
200 

Caviar  and  paddlefish  eggs. . 

Pompano 

3,300 

300 

200 
12,000 

600 
12,000 

100 

400 

900 

50,000 

3,200 

1,000 

6,500 

1,500 

200 

380,000 
47,000 

700 

m 

700 

m 

2,800 
200 

m 

300 

(=) 

m 

9,800 
6,600 

Rock  bass 

Sailor's  choice,  or  pinfish 

1,900 
7,600 
2,400 

1,400 
20,000 
80,000 

m 

400 
100 

100 

400 

4,400 

6,400 
58,000 
4,. 300 

5,400 

50,000 

383,000 

100 

3,000 

100 

400 
900 
21,000 
(=) 

400 

2,500 

200 

(') 
100 

Sheepshead 

Spadeflsh 

m 

Spanish  mackerel 

Si)ot 

200 
4,400 

200 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout 

Strawberry  bass 

Suckers 

19,000 

400 

4,200 

2,900 

600 

200 
100 

3,600 
7,300 
1,200 

100 
200 
100 

100 

(=) 

Whiting 

All  other 

Crabs,  soft 

3,925,000 
5,100 
2,200 

68,000 

1,200 

100 

196,000 

13,000 

Terrapin 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 
ai^as . .                    

<  7,423,000 
'50,000 

292,000 
3,800 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  7,473,000  pounds,  valued  at  $295,000;  shrimp  nets  and  traps,  178,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000;  cast 


nets,  62,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,900;  spears,  etc.,  28,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,600;  and  pound  nets,  61,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200. 


Less  than  $100. 


»  Less  than  100  poimds. 


<  1,060,000  bushels. 


6  7,100  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2.— MISSISSIPPI— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  GULF  OF  MEXICO  DISTRICT:  1908. 


183 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT   BY— 

• 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Cast  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

QuantVy 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total         .  . 

17,302,000 

1469,000 

7,331,000 

$82,000 

1,818,000 

156,000 

550,000 

»21,000 

62,000 

tl,900 

7,541,000 

J298,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

1,700 

18,000 

31,000 

337,000 

2,100 

176,000 

2,400 

17,000 

38,000 

3,149,000 

1,035,000 

4,600 

9,200 

81,000 

0,900 

7,100 
71,000 

5,300 

617,000 

12,000 

2,300 

380,000 

47,000 

3,983,000 

5,100 

2,200 

•7,423,000 

5  50,000 

100 
800 
600 
10,000 
100 

3,700 

100 

COO 

2,000 

3,900 

20,000 

400 

200 

4,300 

200 

500 
1,300 
200 
28,000 
400 
100 

9,800 

5,600 

69,000 

1,300 

100 

292,000 

3.800 

200 

13,000 

14,000 

174,000 

100 

100,000 

2,200 

11,000 

7,200 

500 

973,000 

3,300 

6,400 

58,000 

4,300 

5,400 
50,000 
3,500 
383,000 
7,300 
1,400 

m 

600 

300 

7,900 

2,000 

400 
300 
(') 

18,000 

300 

100 

3,000 

100 

400 
900 
100 
21,000 
200 
100 

1,500 

m 

12,000 

15,000 

1,900 

25,000 

200 

2,000 

100 

100 

<%oo 

700 
100 

600 

100 

m 

Blueflsh 

4,900 

5,200 

38,000 

100 

37,000 

100 

.3,600 

2,300 

3,149,000 

41,000 
1,200 
1,900 
7,600 
2,400 

1,400 
20,000 

1,200 
80.000 

2,900 
500 

200 
100 

1,700 

(») 

700 

(') 
100 
100 

3,900 

800 
100 

^400 
100 

100 
400 

(=) 

4,400 
100 

(') 

Catfish 

Channel  bass,  or  redfish 

1,100 

100 

14,000 

300 

Drum,  fresh-water 

400 
100 

8 

28,000 

1,500 

Mullet 

22,000 

400 

200 

600 

12,000 

100 

400 
900 
500 
60,000 
1,500 
400 

380,000 
47,000 

700 

m 

2,800 

9,800 
5,600 

Sailor's  choice,  or  pinflsh  . . . 

400 

2,500 

200 

100 

Spadeflsh  

Spanish  macljerel 

Spot 

200 

100 

4,400 

(•) 
^"'200 

Sunfish,  or  bream 

Squeteague 

Whiting 

All  other 

Crabs,  hard 

Crabs,  soft 

.:.:.: ;. 

3,925,000 
5,100 
2,200 

68,000 

1,200 

100 

18,000 

700 

40,000 

Turtles 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 

•7,423,000 
6  50,000 

292,000 
3,800 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  7,473,000  pounds,  valued  at  $295,000;  spears,  etc.,  28,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,500;  and  shrimp  nets, 
40,000  pounds,  valued  at  $800. 

2  Less  than  $100.  «  Less  than  100  pounds.  •  1,060,000  bushels.  '  7,100  bushels. 

Table  3.— MISSISSIPPI— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total. 

3,245,000 

$97,000 

1,766,000 

$40,000 

787,000 

$26,000 

4  A  000 

$19,000 

61,000 

$1,200 

159,000 

$12,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

13,000 

1,664,000 

26,000 

471,000 

87,000 

3.34,000 

463,000 

4,100 

12,000 
3,000 

20,000 
9,000 

1.38,000 

900 
34,000 

500 
19,000 

4,700 
6,500 
14,000 
4,000 

700 
200 
400 
400 

11,000 

2,000 

421,000 

12,000 

49,000 

28,000 

59,000 

209,000 

3,900 

200 
9,600 

300 
2,000 

1,500 
1,200 
6,800 
3,800 

11,000 
35,000 

700 
700 

Buflalo  fish 

1,154,000 
14,000 
71,000 

11,000 

244,000 

253,000 

200 

23,000 

200 

3,100 

700 
4,800 
7,500 

200 

42,000 

800 

12,000 

200 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

338,000 

49,000 
18,000 

13,000 

2,500 
400 

6,000 

200 

8,000 

Crappie 

Drum,  fresh-water 

13,000 

200 

Paddleflsh 

1,000 

(•) 

Caviar 

Rock  bass 

12,000 
3,000 
1,000 
6,000 

700 
200 
(») 
200 

Strawberry  bass 

Suckers 

19,000 

400 

Sunfish,  or  bream 

3,000 

100 

" 

Shrimp 

138,000 

11,000 

1 

1 

■  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Shrimp  traps,  138,000  pounds,  valued  at  $11,000,  and  trammel  nets,  21,000  pounds,  valued  at  $000.  «  Less  than  $100. 


184  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  4.— MISSISSIPPI— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES  OF  GULF  OF  MEXICO  DISTRICT:  1908. 


Total. 


Fish: 

Bluefish 

Catfish 

Channel  bass,  or  redfish . 

Croaker 

Drum,  salt-water , 


Flounders. .. 
Menhaden.. 

Mullet 

Pompano... 
Sheepshead . 


Spadefish 

Spanish  mackerel 

Spot 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout. 

Whiting 

All  other 


Sbrimi) 

Terrapin 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas. . 
Oysters,  market,  from  private  area.s. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


13,188,000 


13,000 

3,600 

100,000 

44,000 
5,500 

5,700 

2,751,000 

353,000 

2.900 

22,000 

5,500 
4,500 
43,000 
178,000 
4,400 
2,600 

3,405,000 

600 

!  6, 226, 000 

> 18,000 


Value. 


1299,000 


600 
100 
4,200 
SOO 
100 

300 
3,400 
6,200 

300 
1,000 

100 
300 
800 
9,200 
100 
100 

56,000 

200 

214,000 

1,100 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 


Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


6,244,000 


2  6,226.000 
3  18,000 


Value. 


S215,000 


214,000 
1,100 


Seines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


6,288,000 


3,800 

1,400 

20,000 

15,000 

1,500 

1,200 

2,751,000 

24,000 

900 

3,800 

2,100 
1,100 
15,000 
40,000 
1,400 
1,000 

3,405,000 
GOO 


Value. 


$65,000 


(') 


200 


900 
300 
(') 

100 
3,400 
400 
100 
200 

(') 

100 
.  300 
2,200 

(') 

(') 

56,000 
200 


Trammel  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


8,900 
2.200 
80,000 
29,000 
4,000 

4,600 

200 

329,000 

2,000 

18,000 

3,400 
3,400 
28,000 
1,38,000 
3,000 
1,000 


Value. 


130,000 


400 
100 
3,400 
500 
100 


(■) 


200 


5,800 
200 
900 

lOO 
200 
500 
,100 
100 


(') 


'  Less  than  $100. 


'  889,000  bushels. 


''  2.600  bushels. 


Table  5.— MISSISSIPPI— PRODUCTS  OP  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF  GULF  OF  MEXICO  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lhies. 

Seines. 

Ail  other  apparatus.! 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(l>ounds). 

Value. 

Total  .      .          .                

4,114,000 

$160,000 

1,161,000 

$37,000 

550,000 

$21,000 

1,043,000 

$18,000 

1,359,000 

$85,000 

Fish: 

PlnpV  hftss 

1,700 

5,200 

200 

27,000 

127,000 

2,100 

132,000 

2,400 

12,000 

32,000 

398,000 

682,000 

1,600 

7,600 

58,000 

2,700 
28,000 
339,000 
5,300 
7,300 
2,800 

380,000 

47,000 

578,000 

4,500 

2,200 

•1,197,000 

5  32,000 

100 
300 

{') 
600 

6,100 

100 

3,000 

100 

400 

1,700 

SOO 

13,000 

200 

200 

3,200 

200 
.500 
19,000 
200 
200 
100 

9,800 

5,600 
12,900 

1,100 

100 

78,000 

2,700 

200 
4,000 

200 
11,000 
93,000 

100 

71,000 

2,200 

7,200 

2,600 

300 

644,000 

1,300 

5,500 

40,000 

2,100 
22,000 
245,000 
3,500 
4,300 
1,500 

m 

200 

m 

200 
4,500 

(') 
1,500 

m 

30O 
100 

(«) 

12,000 
100 
100 

2,200 

200 
400 
14,000 
100 
100 
100 

1,500 

100 

Bluefish.                

1,200 

100 

Catfish             

12,000 
15,000 

1,900 
26,000 

200 
2,000 

100 

300 
700 

100 
600 

m 

100 

3,800 
18,000 

100 
23,000 

100 
2,000 
1,100 

398,000 

17,000 

200 

1,100 

3,800 

200 

4,500 

40,000 

1,200 

l,.5flO 

600 

100 
800 

500 
100 

m 

500 
300 

m 
m 

200 

m 

100 
2,200 
(') 

1,100 

100 

Croaker . .      .             

14,000 

300 

Drum,  salt-water 

400 
28,000 

1,500 

Menhaden 

Mullet     . . 

22,000 

400 

Pompano 

200 

600 

12,000 

400 
900 
50,000 
600 
1,500 
600 

380,000 
47,000 

8 
700 

2,800 

m 

(«) 
m 

9,800 
5,600 

Sailor's  choice,  or  pinfish .  .  . 

400 
2,600 

100 

Spanish  mackerel 

Spot                                        .  . 

200 

4,400 

100 

200 

Sunfish,  or  bream. . .           

(') 

Whiting 

All  other. .             

200 

(') 

Crabs,  soft 

520,000 
4, .WO 
2,200 

11,000 

1,100 

100 

58,000 

1,500 

Terrapin 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 

<  1,197,000 
'32,000 

78,000 

2,700 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows;  Dredges,  tontrs.  etc.,  1,229,000  pounds,  valued  at  $81 ,000;  cast  nets,  62,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,900;  spears,  etc.,  28,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $1  ..lOO;  and  shrimp  nets,  40,000  pounds,  valued  at  $800. 

>  Less  than  $100.  >  Less  than  100  pounds.  <  171,000  bushels.  >  4,500  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


185 


MISSOURI. 


The  fishing  grounds  of  Missouri  are  the  Mississippi, 
St.  Francis,  Missouri,  Osage,  and  Gasconade  Rivers 
and  the  Little  River  Overflow,  as  well  as  minor  waters. 
They  may  be  grouped  in  two  districts,  comprising, 
respectively,  the  Mississippi  River  with  its  tributaries, 
exclusive  of  the  Missouri  River,  and  the  Missouri 
River  with  its  tributaries.  The  fisheries  of  the  state 
are  all  of  the  shore  and  boat  class,  no  documented 
vessels  being  employed.  The  following  is  a  general 
summary  of  the  industry  for  1908: 

Kumber  of  persons  employed 906 

Capital : 

Boats $25,000 

Apparatus  of  capture 39, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 27,  000 

Value  of  products 271, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — A  comparison 
with  the  reports  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  former 
years  shows  considerable  fluctuation  in  the  number 
of  persons  employed,  capital  invested  in  equipment, 
and  products.  The  following  tabular  statement  gives 
such  comparative  figures  for  1894,  1899,  and  1908: 


i 

Persons 

em- 
ploved, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Boats. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

906 

1,125 

567 

$64,000 
52,000 
36,000 

$25,000 
18,000 
11,000 

$39,000 
34,000 
24,000 

6,751,000 
7,651,000 
3,822,000 

$271,000 

1899                .    ... 

211,000 

1894 

120,000 

Persons  employed. — The  distribution  of  the  persons 
engaged  in  fishing  in  1908  is  given  in  the  follo\ving 
tabular  statement.  Almost  three-fourths  of  the  total 
number  were  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  and  its  tributaries  other  than  the  Missouri 
River.  This  district  reported  an  even  larger  propor- 
tion of  the  wage-earners : 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

DISTRICT. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Wages. 

Total 

906 

1746 

160 

$21,000 

Mississippi  River  district 

669 
237 

533 
213 

136 
24 

19,000 

2,600 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  value  of  the  equipment  and  the" 
amount  of  other  capital  employed  in  the  industry, 
together  with  the  distribution  of  the  same  between 
the  Mississippi  River  and  the  Missouri  River  districts: 


CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 


Total 

Boats 

Steain  and  motor 

Uow 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property. 
Cash 


value  of  equipment  and  otheb 
capital:  1908. 


Total. 


$91,000 


25,000 
11,000 
14,000 
39,000 
12,000 
14,000 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


$71,000 


20,000 
9,400 

10,000 

30,000 
9,800 

12,000 


Missouri 

River 

district. 


$20,000 


6,800 
1,700 
4,100 
8,300 
2,700 
2,800 


The  number  of  boats  reported  was  785,  which  com- 
prised 33  steam  and  motor  and  526  row  boats  in  the 
ilississippi  River  district  and  9  steam  and  motor  and 
217  row  boats  in  the  Missouri  River  district. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  number 
of  the  more  important  lands  of  apparatus  of  capture 
used: 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:   1908. 


Firearms 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Pound  nets 

Seines 

Spears,  etc 

Trammel  nets 

Traps,  muskrat  and  otter 


Mississippi 

Total. 

River 

district. 

Ill 

Ill 

6,019 

4,901 

26 

26 

188 

137 

68 

68 

161 

85 

1,580 

1,580 

Missouri 

River 

district. 


1,118 


61 


76 


I  Exclusive  of  seven  proprietors  not  fiflhing. 


Apparatus  of  capture  represented  a  little  more  than 
two-fifths  of  the  capital  invested,  the  balance  being 
about  equally  divided  between  boats  on  the  one  hand 
and  shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash  capital  on 
the  other. 

Products. — The  products  of  all  fisheries  of  the  state, 
distributed  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture,  are 
given  in  Table  1 ,  on  page  186.  The  German  carp  led  in 
quantity  and  value,  and  was  followed  by  catfish,  bull- 
heads, and  buffalo  fish,  the  catches  of  these  four  species 
representing  nearly  tliree-fifths  of  the  total  value  of 
products.  The  frog  catch  was  of  considerable  impor- 
tance, while  muskrat,  mink,  and  otter  skins  contributed 
nearly  6  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 

In  Tables  2  and  3,  on  page  187,  the  products  are 
distributed  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture  for 
the  two  districts.     The  distribution  of  the  principal 


186 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


products,  by  species  and  districts,  is  given  in  the  fol- 
lowing tabular  statement : 


Total 

Fish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Buffalo  fish 

Black  bass 

Grapple 

Drum,  fresh-water 

Bream,  or  sunfish , 

Sturgeon,  caviar,  and  paddleflsh  eggs 

Another 

Frogs 

Mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs 

SMns— muskrat,  mink,  and  otter 

Turtles  and  terrapin 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$271,000 


241,000 

80,000 

51,000 

30,000 

27,000 

17,000 

11,000 

9,600 

6,100 

11,000 

11,000 

1,600 

15,000 

400 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


J197,000 


108, 

44, 

37, 

25, 

37, 

10, 

5, 

8, 

1, 

5, 

11, 

1, 

16, 


Missouri 

River 
district. 


$74,000 


74,000 

37,000 

15,000 

4,900 

lOO 

1,300 

5,500 

1,100 

3,700 

6,100 


The  distribution  of  the  value  of  the  products  accord- 
ing to  apparatus  of  capture  used  was  as  follows: 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Missouri 
River 

district. 

Total 

$271,000 

8197,000 

$74,000 

88,000 
68,000 
40,000 
40,000 
15,0(X) 
14,000 

65,000 
42,000 
40,000 
20,000 
15,000 
14,000 

23,000 

26,400 

5,000 

Seines 

Lines 

20,000 

All  other 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets  are  credited  with  the  largest 
catch  for  the  Mississippi  River  district,  and  seines  with 
the  largest  catch  for  the  Missouri  River  district. 


Table  1.— MISSOURI— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

• 

species. 

total. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Pound  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(jwunds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Total 

6,751,000 

$271,000 

2,538,000 

$88,000 

1,915,000 

$68,000 

970,000 

$46,000 

1,052,000 

$49,000 

26,000 

$1,100 

248,000 

$28,000 

Fish: 

329,000. 

441,000 

993,000 

2,432,000 

1,166,000 

336,000 
34,000 

323,000 
17,000 

128,000 

58,000 

34,000 

300 

132,000 

300 

54,000 

67,000 

1,900 

23,000 

170,000 

27,0C0 
9,600 
30,000 
80,000 
61,000 

17,000 
700 

11,000 
1,000 
4,000 

1,200 
2,700 

'^000 

100 

1,400 

11,000 

100 

400 

1,000 

600 

3,100 

12,000 

43,000 
271,000 
476,000 
928,000 
378,000 

152,000 
13,000 

145,000 
2,700 
49,000 

12,000 
9,200 

3,500 

5,800 

16,000 

31,000 

16,000 

7,400 
300 

4,800 
200 

1,400 

300 
700 

61,000 
143,000 
299,000 
841,000 
200,000 

137,000 
8,800 

71,000 
7,700 

61,000 

5,800 

12,000 

300 

40,000 

5,200 
2,900 
8,700 
26,000 
10,000 

7,000 
200 

2,900 
400 

1,700 

100 
1,000 

m 

1,500 

201,000 

1,900 

38,000 

141,000 

482,000 

3,000 

2,800 

44,000 

1,600 

400 

41,000 
2,600 

16,000 

100 

1,400 

5,100 

19,000 

200 

100 

1,500 

100 

m 

800 
200 

24,000 
25,000 
173,000 
616,0r;0 
104,000 

33,000 
8,500 

62,000 
4,900 

26,000 

200 
11,000 

43,000 

19,000 

1,800 
800 
5,200 
18,000 
0,300 

1,700 
200 

2,300 
300 
900 

m 

800 

(=) 
1,600 

m 

500 

7,000 
5,000 
2,500 

10,000 

200 
100 
100 

600 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Doffflsh 

600 

(') 

Eels 

1,600 

(') 

Pike 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

... 

40,000 

300 

17,000 

1,600 
100 
400 

9,100 

*i?cxx, 

500 

<?oo 

16,000 

400 

07,000 
1,100 

11,000 

800 
20,000 

300 

i') 

2,700 

100 

800 

m 

170,000 

1,000 

600 

<466 
'9,800 





MOO 
5  9,800 

3,100 

12,000 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Muskrat  traps,  etc.,  10,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  guns,  46,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,600;  spears,  etc.,  22,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $3,600;  and  crowfoot  dredges,  170,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,600. 

»  Less  than  $100.  '  Less  than  100  pounds.  « 800  skins.  •  29,000  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2.— MISSOURI— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


187 


PEODUCT  CACQHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Pound  nets. 

All  other  app^ 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds.) 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

5,448,000 

$197,000 

2,148,000 

165,000 

1,450,000 

$42,000 

893,000 

$40,000 

682,000 

$20,000 

26,000 

$1,100 

248,000 

$28,000 

Fish: 

328,000 
421,000 
894,000 
1, 735, 000 
987,000 

313, 000 
14,000 

23.'i,000 
0,500 
94,000 

58,000 
300 
300 

54,000 
300 

38,000 

67,000 
25,000 
170,000 

27,000 
8,500 
25,000 
44,000 
37,000 

16,000 
300 

5,900 
300 

2,300 

1,200 

(') 

(') 

1,200 
100 
800 

11,000 
400 
1,000 
600 
3,100 
12,000 

42,000 
286,000 
448,000 
705,000 
330,000 

146,000 

0,800 

118,(X)0 

000 

41,000 

12,000 
100 

3,400 
5,400 
13,000 
19,000 
12,000 

7,000 

200 

3,100 

1,000 

300 

61,000 
137,000 
256,000 
593,000 
137,000 

130,000 
2,600 

39,000 
3,700 

38,000 

5,800 

200 

300 

15,000 

5,100 
2,600 
6,700 
13,000 
4,900 

6,600 

(') 
900 
2(» 
900 

100 

') 

300 

201,000 

1,000 

36,000 

109,00.', 

460,000 

2,100 

1,700 

38,000 

800 

16,000 

100 

1,290 

,3,100 

17,000 

100 
if^O 

(=) 

24,000 

18, 0(» 

148,0(X> 

324,000 

68,000 

25,000 
3,100 

38,000 
1,400 

13,000 

200 
100 

(=) 
17,000 

m 

14,000 

1,800 
400 
4,000 
8,000 
2,700 

1,300 
100 
900 
100 
300 

ii 

400 

Buffalo  fish 

7,000 
6,000 
2,600 

10,000 

200 
100 
100 

600 

500 

(') 

Eels 

Paddlefish 

1,500 

(=) 

Pike 

41,000 
(') 

800 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

18,000 

300 

13,000 

400 
100 
300 

3,800 
100 

100 

(•) 
(») 

Caviar  and  paddlefiish  eggs. . 

12,000 

200 

67,000 

1,100 

170,000 

11,000 

2,700 

100 

21,000 

300 

800 

m 

(') 

1,000 

600 

<400 
'9,800 

MOO 
'9,800 

3,100 

! 

12,000 

i 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Traps,  muskrat,  etc.,  10,000  pounds,  valued  at  $15,000;  guns,  46,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,500;  spears,  etc.,  22,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $3,600;  and  crowfoot  dredges,  170,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,600. 

s  Less  than  $100.  >  Less  than  100  pounds.  *  800  skins.  »  29,000  slclns. 

Table  3.— MISSOURI— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSOURI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,303,000 

$74,000 

465,000 

$26,000 

391,000 

$23,000 

370,000 

$20,000 

77,000 

$5,400 

1,300 
20,000 
99,000 
697,000 
179,000 

23,000 
20,000 
90,000 
10,000 

35,000 
34,000 
78,000 
16,000 

100 

1,100 

4,900 

37,000 

15,000 

1,300 
400 

6,500 
700 

1,700 

2,700 

3,700 

000 

700 

6,300 

43,000 

248,000 

63,000 

6,900 

6,200 

33,000 

4,000 

13,000 

12,000 

25,000 

4,900 

100 
300 

2,100 
13,000 

5,200 

400 

100 

1,900 

200 

700 

900 

1,200 

200 

400 

5,900 

2S,000 

224,000 

47,000 

6,500 

5,900 

27,000 

2,100 

7,900 
9,200 
22,000 
4,700 

«300 
1,500 
12,000 
4,100 

400 

100 

1,700 

100 

300 

700 

1,100 

200 

100 

7,800 
25,000 
192,000 
46,000 

8,800 

6,400 

24,000 

3,500 

13,000 
11,000 
26,000 
6,600 

"400 

1,200 

10,000 

3,600 

500 

100 

1,400 

200 

600 

800 

1,200 

200 

100 

400 

3,600 

33,000 

23,000 

900 
1,200 
5,900 

800 

400 
2,600 
5,300 
1,000 

(') 

Rreain,  or  snnfish     . 

') 

Buffalo  fish 

200 

Carp,  German     

2,000 

r^tfi'^b  ATiH  hiinhpftrl.; 

1,900 

Crappie 

100 

Dogfish 

(') 

Drnm    frpsh-watiT 

400 

Eels..' 

(') 

(') 

Pilce  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

200 

400 

Suckers 

100 

1  Less  than  $100. 


188 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


NEBRASKA. 


In  1908  commercial  fishing  in  tliis  state  was  confined 
to  shore  and  boat  fishing  in  the  Missouri  River.  The 
products  comprised  seven  species,  of  which  the  chief 
was  German  carp.  The  other  kinds  of  fish  taken, 
named  in  tlie  order  of  the  vahie  of  the  catcli,  were  cat- 
fish, buffalo  fish,  paddlefish,  sturgeon,  fresh-water 
drum,  and  pike  perch,  or  wall-eyed  pike.  The  follow- 
ing statement  gives  a  summary  of  the  principal  statis- 
tics of  the  industry  for  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 129 

Capital: 

Boats $1,  300 

Apparatus  of  capture 2, 500 

Shore  and  accessory  property 600 

Value  of  products 22,  000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — While,  in  the 
number  of  persons  employed,  value  of  boats,  and  quan- 
tity of  product,  the  figures  for  1908  show  decreases,  as 
compared  with  previous  canvasses,  there  has  been  a 
decided  increase  in  the  value  of  the  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture and  in  the  value  of  the  product.  The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  the  principal  statistics  for 
1894,  1899,  and  1908: 


Persons 

employed, 

exclusive 

ofsiiores- 

men. 

VALUE   OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

TEAR. 

Total. 

Boats. 

Appa- 
ratus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

129 
142 
76 

$3,800 
3,300 
2,200 

$1,300 

1,400 

600 

$2,600 
1,900 
1,700 

399,000 
367,000 
340,000 

$2'>  000 

1899 

16,000 
14,000 

1894 

Persons  employed. — The  Nebraska  fisheries  furnished 
employment  for  129  persons  in  1908.  Of  these,  115 
were  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  and  14 


were  wage-earners.  Tlie  wage-earners  received  $900 
in  wages  during  the  year. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  capital  invested 
in  the  industry  was  distributed  as  follows :  Rowboats, 
$1,300;  apparatus  of  capture,  $2,500;  and  shore  and 
accessory  property,  $600. 

There  were  96  boats  reported,  and  their  value  was 
sUghtly  less  than  the  value  of  boats  reported  in  1899, 
but  over  twice  that  reported  in  1894.  Tlie  total  invest- 
ment in  apparatus  of  capture  in  1908  shows  a  consider- 
able increase  over  the  amount  reported  for  tliis  item  in 
1899. 

In  1908,  38  seines,  217  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  60  pots 
and  traps,  and  32  trammel  nets  were  reported. 

Products. — The  fishery  products  of  the  state,  distrib- 
uted by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture,  are  given  in 
the  following  table. 

The  leading  species  was  German  carp,  wliich  repre- 
sented 64  per  cent  of  the  weight  of  all  the  fishery  prod- 
ucts of  Nebraska  and  53  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 
The  catch  of  this  fish  has  increased  greatly  witliin  the 
past  few  years,  as  a  quantity  valued  at  only  $100  was 
caught  in  1894,  and  none  was  reported  in  1899.  The 
catfish  product,  66,000  pounds,  valued  at  $6,600,  was 
considerably  smaller  in  quantity  but  somewhat  larger 
in  value  than  that  reported  in  1899,  which  was  85,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $6,100.  The  catch  of  buffalo  fish, 
43,000  pounds,  was  less  than  a  third  of  that  reported  in 
1899,  138,000  pounds;  but  a  comparison  of  the  respec- 
tive values  of  the  two  catches,  $2,200  for  that  of  1908 
and  $4,900  for  that  of  1899,  shows  an  increase  in  the 
average  price  per  pound.  The  quantity  of  this  fish 
reported  in  1894  was  169,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,000. 

The  catch  of  sturgeon  in  1908  was  somewhat  less  in 
quantity  and  in  value  than  in  1899,  while  that  of  pad- 
dlefish was  greater  both  in  quantity  and  in  value. 


NEBRASKA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY — 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Lines. 

Fylco  and  hoop  nets. 

Fish  pots  and  traps. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total                          .  . 

399,000 

$22,000 

164,000 

$8,500 

124,000 

$7,000 

42,000 

$3,100 

54,000 

$3,000 

15,000 

$800 

Buffalo  fish 

43,000 

254,000 

66,000 

4,900 

20,000 

100 

11,000 

2,200 
12,000 

6,  (100 
300 
800 

(') 
600 

20,000 

102,000 

21,000 

2,300 

17,000 

(=) 

2,300 

1,000 

4,500 

2,100 

100 

000 

(') 

100 

11,000 
9l,nno 

14,000 
2,200 
3,000 
100 
3,200 

600 
4,000 
1,400 

200 

200 
(') 

200 

2,500 
14,000 
20,000 

200 

000 

2,000 

9,100 

36,000 

8,700 

200 

500 

1,600 

900 

1,000 

11,000 

3,000 

200 

300 

(■) 

Catfish .... 

Paddlefish 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

S  turgeon 

5,000 

300 

1  Less  than  $100. 


>  Loss  than  100  pounds. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


189 


NEW   HAMPSHIRE. 


New  Hampshire  has  but  one  county  bordering  upon 
the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  its  fisheries,  wliich  are  all  of 
the  shore  and  boat  class,  are  of  relatively  small  im- 
portance. The  principal  statistics  for  1908  are  given 
in  the  following  statement: 

Number  of  persona  employed 79 

Capital : 

Boata $13, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 10, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 200 

Value  of  products 53, 000 

As  early  as  1888  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  reported 
that  there  had  been  a  considerable  diminution  in  the 
importance  of  the  fisheries  of  the  state,  a  decrease 
being  evident  in  the  number  of  persons  employed,  in 
the  amount  of  capital  invested,  and  in  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  products.  This  downward  tendency 
has,  on  the  whole,  continued,  although  the  heavy  de- 
crease in  the  quantity  of  products  since  1898  has  been 
accompanied  by  an  increase  in  their  value.  Further- 
more, since  1905  the  investment  in  equipment  has  in- 
creased, as  shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


1908 

79 
132 
147 
143 
329 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1888 

Persons 
employed, 
exclusive 

of 
shoresmen. 


VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 


Total. 


523,000 
18,000 
24,000 
25,000 
64,000 


Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 


$13,000 
8,200 
12.000 
13,000 
41,000 


Appa- 
ratus of 
capture. 


$10,000 
9,600 
11,000 
12,000 
23,000 


PRODUCTS. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


077,000 
1,036.000 
1,593,000 
3,021,000 
3,843,000 


Value. 


$53,000 
52,000 
50,000 
49,000 
90,000 


Of  the  79  persons  employed  in  1908,  78  were  pro- 
prietors and  independent  fishermen,  and  only  one  was 
reported  as  a  wage-earner. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  invest- 
ment in  the  New  Hampshire  fisheries  in  1908: 


CLASS 

OF  INVESTMENT. 

EQUIPMENT  AND 
OTHER  CAPITAL: 

190S. 

Number. 

Value. 

Total 

$23,000 

Boats 

80 
36 
17 
27 

13  000 

11,000 

Sail 

1,400 

Row ...                         .  . 

800 

Apparatus  of  capture 

10  000 

Snore  antl  accessory  propertv 

^'^m 

Cash 

1  Less  than  $100. 


Six  gill  nets,  2,7.30  lobster  pots,  3  moss  rakes,  and 
11  weirs  were  reported. 

Statistics  concerning  the  fishery  products  of  the 
state,  distributed  according  to  species  and  apparatus 
of  capture,  are  given  in  the  tabular  statement  at  the 


end  of  tliis  section.  In  1908  the  value  of  lobsters  con- 
stituted 81  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  products.  The 
lobster  product  has  increased  rapidly  in  quantity  and 
more  rapidly  in  value  since  the  canva.ss  of  1888,  as 
shown  below: 


LOBSTEB  PEODDCT. 

YEAE. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

i9as 

264,000 
256,000 
109,000 
136,000 

$43  000 

1905 

1898 

9  400 

1888 

6,300 

In  other  respects  the  fisheries  of  New  Ilampsliire 
have  suffered  a  decrease  in  importance.  In  1888  the 
catch  of  cod  was  1,426,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000; 
that  of  haddock  was  1,069,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$20,000;  and  that  of  haUbut  143,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $12,000.  Compared  with  these  figures  the  totals 
for  1908  were  very  small,  as  may  be  seen  from  the 
tabular  statement  given  below: 


FISHERY  PEODUCTS:  1908. 

Total. 

Product  caught  by— 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

All  other  appsr 
ratus.  1 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

677,000 

$53,000 

211,000 

$5,500 

467,000 

$48,000 

Fish; 

121,000 

135,000 

100.000 

13,000 

6,300 

2,600 

264,000 

35,000 

1,800 

3,900 

2,700 

100 

100 

30O 

43,000 

1,400 

121,000 
44,000 

1,800 
1  400 

Cod         

91,000 

100,000 

13,000 

6,300 

2,600 

2,700 

100 

100 

Haddoclc 

Hake 

Pollaclc 

Smelt 

2,600 
264,000 
35,000 

300 

Lobsters 

43,000 
1,400 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Lobster  pots,  264,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $43,000;  pouml  nets  and  weirs,  124,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,1(K);  gill  nets,  44,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  and  ralces,  35,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,400. 

NEW   JERSEY. 

In  1908  New  Jersey  ranked  eighth  in  value  of  fishery 
products,  with  a  catch  valued  at  $3,069,000.  Oysters 
were  the  leading  product,  their  value  forming  45  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the 
state;  while  squeteague,  hard  clams,  and  shad  were 
other  prominent  varieties.  Delaware  Bay,  the  Lower 
Bay,  and  the  numerous  coves  and  inlets  along  the 
coast  are  among  the  more  important  fishing  grounds 
of  the  state. 

The  following  statement  gives  the  principal  sta- 
tistics for  the  fisheries  of  the  state  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 7, 231 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $1, 100,  000 

Apparatus  of  capture 345, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 269,  000 

Value  of  products 3, 069, 000 


190 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — ^A  compari- 
son of  the  general  statistics  for  1908  with  similar  items 
for  previous  years  shows  that  there  has  been  a  marked 
decline  in  the  magnitude  of  the  industry  since  1897, 
following  a  gain  between  1891  and  1897.  Such  a  com- 
parison is  made  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE   OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PBODUCTS. 

TEAB. 

Total. 

Vessels 
an  ^.  boats, 
including 

outfit. 

Appa. 
ratus  of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

7,145 

8,293 

11,884 

10,107 

$1,445,000 
1,548,000 
1,634,000 
1,519,000 

$1,100,000 
1,135,000 
1,252,000 
1,198,000 

•$345,000 
413,000 
382,000 
322,000 

74,827,000 
90,108.000 
103,783.000 
79,116,000 

$3,069,000 
3.386,000 

1904 

1897 

3,614,000 
3,620,000 

1891 

Persons  employed. — The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  statistics  as  to  the  persons  employed  in  the  fish- 
eries of  New  Jersey  in  1908: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

SalOr 
ried 
em- 

plo.v- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

7,231 

14,041 

4 

3,186 

$744,000 

$1,500 

Vessel  fisheries 

Tjansporting  vessels... 
Shore  and  boat  fisher- 
ies  

2,329 
115 

4,701 
86 

335 
39 

3,667 

4 

1,990 
76 

1,034 
86 

399,000 
20,000 

300,000 
24,000 

1,500 

398,000 
20,000 

300,000 
24  000 

Shoresmen 

I  Exclusive  of  76  proprietors  not  fishing. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $138,000. 

Of  the  shoresmen,  82  were  employed  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  and  4  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  Including 
shoresmen,  4,783  persons  were  engaged  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fishefries  and  2,333  in  the  vessel  fisheries. 
The  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  outnum- 
bered the  salaried  employees  and  wage-earners,  owing 
to  the  preponderance  of  independent  fishermen  among 
those  engaged  in  {he  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  statistics  of  cap- 
ital invested  are  shown  in  the  next  table. 

The  value  of  the  vessels  and  their  outfits  and  boats 
amounted  to  $1,100,000  and  formed  64  per  cent  of  the 
total  investment.  Contrary  to  the  general  rule  in 
coast  fisheries,  both  the  number  and  the  value  of  power 
vessels  and  boats  were  greater  than  those  of  sail  ves- 
sels and  sailboats,  there  being  1,176  of  the  former 
class,  valued  with  their  outfits  at  $849,000,  and  1,002 
of  the  latter,  valued  with  their  outfits  at  $203,000.  Of 
the  total  value  of  craft,  including  outfit,  60  per  cent 
represented  the  investment  in  tlie  vessels  of  the  vessel 
fisheries;  36  per  cent  that  in  the  boats  of  shore  and 
boat  fisheries;  and  5  per  cent  that  in  transporting  ves- 
sels. Of  the  investment  in  shore  and  accessory  prop- 
erty, $164,000  pertained  to  shore  and  boat  fisheries; 


$34,000  to  vessel  fisheries;  and  $2,200  to  transporting 
vessels.  The  cash  reported  was  as  follows:  $59,000 
for  shore  and  boat  fisheries;  $9,400  for  vessel  fisheries; 
and  $800  for  transporting  vessels.  The  total  invest- 
ment in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  was  $932,000  and 
that  in  the  vessel  fisheries  $727,000. 


CL.1S3  OF  INVESTMENT. 

EQUIPMENT     AND     OTHER    CAPITAL! 

1908. 

Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

Total 

$1,714,000 

Vessels,  Including  outfit 

709,000 

658.000 

546,000 

453,000 

93,000 

111,000 

93,000 

18,000 

200 

52,000 

36,000 

31.000 

6,100 

16.000 

13.000 

2,800 

391.000 

266,000 

76,000 

39,000 

9,000 

345.000 

26.000 

318,000 

200,000 

69,000 

435 
391 
255 

4  966 

Fishtag 

4,446 
3,221 

Steam  and  motor 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

129 

1,226 

Outfit 

other 

7 
44 
23 

620 
200 

Steam  and  motor 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

21 

Outfit 

Boats 

3,843 
898 
852 

1,654 
439 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail. 

Row 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  boa^  fisheries 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash 

Apparatus  of  capture  was  valued  at  $345,000,  the 
greater  part  of  which  amount,  $318,000,  or  92  per  cent, 
is  credited  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  distri- 
bution of  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture 
reported  between  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  was  as  follows: 


Dip  nets 

Eel  pots 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets . . 

Gill  nets 

Harpoons,  spearsf  etc. 

Lobster  pots , 

Muskrat  traps 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

Seines 

Shrimp  nets 

Trammel  nets 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 


Total. 


183 

4,300 

1.591 

2.243 

19 

4,191 

2,564 

350 

246 

6 

2 


Used  in— 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


87 
80 
189 


280 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


183 

4,213 

1.511 

2  054 

19 

3.911 

2,564 

350 

222 

6 

2 


Products,  hy species. — Table  1,  on  page  193,  gives  the 
products,  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture. 

The  leading  species,  named  in  the  order  of  quantity 
taken,  were  oysters,  menhaden,  squeteague,  king 
crabs,  cod,  whiting,  sea  bass,  and  shad;  while  named 
according  to  value,  they  were  oysters,  squeteague, 
hard  clams,  shad,  cod,  and  sea  bass. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — Table  3,  on  page  195, 
gives  the  statistics  of  the  vessel  fisheries,  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture;  and  Table  2,  on  page  194, 
gives  similar  statistics  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 
The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  tlie  total 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


191 


value  of  products  by  species  and  by  class  of  fisheries, 
OJily  those  products  for  which  a  value  in  excess  of 
$10,000  was  reported  being  shown  separately: 


VALUE 

OF  products:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$3,069,000 

11.196,000 

»1, 873, 000 

Fteh 

1,305,000 

342,000 

229,000 

130,000 

123,000 

99,000 

61.0U0 

44.000 

43,000 

35,000 

25,000 

23.000 

22.000 

22,000 

19.000 

16.000 

14.000 

12.000 

11,000 

43,000 

1,369.000 

884,000 

485,000 

337,000 

34,000 

10.000 

9,000 

180.000 
13,000 

1,119.000 

Snuoteague. .                          

329.000 

Shad 

229.000 

Cod.                                       

90,OOC 
40,000 
4,700 
(') 

40,000 

84,000 

Blliofisli                     

94,000 

61,000 

Silver  hake.                        .           

44,000 

13,000 

17.000 

400 

2,100 

700 

200 

2,90C 

30.000 

Scup                          .               

19,000 

23,000 

Stiirgoon  and  caviar     ,  .            

21.000 

EeLs 

21,000 

Bonito 

22,000 

16,  mio 

16, 000 

2,200 

12,000 

12,000 

200 

11,000 

All  other.. 

43,000 

988.000 

575. 000 

413.000 

17,000 

3,700 

800 

200 

380,000 

Market                                          

309.000 

Seed 

71,000 

Clams 

319.000 

■io.ooo 

I.'i.OOO 

AUother 

8,800 

1  Loss  than  JIOO. 


Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows,  for  each  class  of  fisheries,  the 
distribution  by  apparatus  of  capture  of  the  total  value 
of  products  for  the  state,  only  those  forms  of  appa- 
ratus whicii  took  products  having  a  value  in  excess  of 
$10,000  being  shown  separately. 


KIND   OF  ArP.\R.\TUS. 


Total 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

Lines 

Gill  nets 

Seines 

Eel  and  lobst«r  pots  and  traps. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

All  other , 


VALUE  OP  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$3,069,000 


1,703,000 

539,000 

332,000 

310,000 

108,000 

32,000 

22,000 

23,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$1,196,000 


1,009,000 


137,000 

4,400 

44,000 

1,400 

100 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$1,873,000 


694,000 
539.000 
196,000 
305,000 
65,000 
30,000 
22,000 
23,000 


Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  pound  and  trap  nets,  lines, 
gill  nets,  and  seines,  ranking  with  respect  to  the  value 
of  the  product  taken  by  them  in  the  order  named,  were 
employed  in  taking  fishery  products  representing  98 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  product  of  the  state. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  show  a  catch  far  in  excess  of 
that  of  other  apparatus.  The  product  taken  by  these 
implements  in  the  vessel  fisheries  was  nearly  three 
times  as  heavy  as  that  taken  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  but  less  than  twice  as  valuable. 

The  catch  with  pound  and  trap  nets  included  a  large 
number  of  species.  Over  one-half  of  the  value  of  their 
catch  represented  the  value  of  squeteague  taken.  But- 
terfish,  silver  hake,  menhaden,  and  whiting  were  other 


important  species  in  the  pound  and  trap  net  catch. 
Of  the  value  of  the  line  catch,  more  than  two-thirds 
represented  the  value  of  sea  bass  and  cod.  A  little 
over  two-fifths  of  the  product  taken  with  lines  was 
reported  for  vessel  fisheries  and  almost  tliree-fif ths  for 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  In  the  former  class  of  fish- 
eries cod  was  the  leading  species  with  respect  to  value, 
and  sea  bass  was  second  in  rank,  the  two  together  con- 
tributing 3,376,000  pounds,  valued  at  $128,000,  out  of 
the  total  line  catch  of  3,576,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$137,000.  Of  the  line  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries, which  aggregated  4,806,000  pounds  and  was 
valued  at  -$196,000,  sea  bass  contributed  1,944,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $76,000,  and  bluefish  808,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $44,000,  while  the  large  remainder 
included  a  number  of  species. 

Gill  nets  were  used  chiefly  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  Much  more  than  half  of  the  catch  by  these 
nets  consisted  of  shad. 

The  value  of  the  catch  by  seines  was  less  than  that 
of  the  product  taken  by  any  other  of  the  five  forms  of 
apparatus  discussed.  •  Products  taken  by  seines  were 
reported  for  both  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  the 
vessel  fisheries,  2,582,000  pounds,  valued  at  $65,000, 
being  credited  to  the  former  and  7,067,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $44,000,  to  the  latter.  In  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries,  the  products  of  greatest  value  taken  by 
seines  were  shad,  squeteague,  and  alewives.  Of  the 
seine  catch  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries,  menhaden 
contributed  5,884,000  pounds,  or  83  per  cent. 

Oysters. — Oysters  were  the  chief  fishery  product  in- 
New  Jersey,  as  in  most  of  the  Middle  and  South 
Atlantic  states.  The  total  quantity  taken  in  this 
state  was  2,586,000  bushels,  the  value  of  which, 
$1,369,000,  represents  45  per  cent  of  the  value  of  aU 
the  fishery  products  of  New  Jersey.  This  ratio,  how- 
ever, was  less  than  that  of  former  years,  as  shown  by 
the  following  tabular  statement : 


VALUE  OP  nSHEET  PRODUCTS. 

YE.i». 

All  species. 

Oysters. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

1908 

$3,069,000 
3,385,000 
3,614,000 
3,177,000 

$1,369,000 
1,692,000 
1,682,000 
2,081,000 

45 

1904 

SO 

1,S97 

47 

1880 •. 

66 

Nearly  two-thirds  of  the  oyster  product  in  1908,  or 
1,667,000  bushels,  consisted  of  seed  oysters,  but  the 
value  of  these,  $485,000,  was  only  a  little  more  than 
one-third  of  the  value  of  the  entire  oyster  yield.  Of 
the  seed  oysters,  772,000  bushels,  valued  at  $236,000, 
came  from  public  areas,  and  895,000  bushels,  valued 
at  $248,000,  from  private  areas.  There  has  been  a 
marked  growth  since  1904  in  the  seed-oyster  product 
from  private  areas.     In  that  year  the  yield  of  seed 


192 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


oysters  was  826,000  bushels,  valued  at  $393,000,  but  of 
this  only  1,300  bushels,  valued  at  $500,  came  from 
private  beds.  Between  1904  and  1908,  therefore,  the 
seed  oysters  from  private  areas  increased  894,000 
bushels  in  quantity  and  $248,000  in  value;  while  the 
seed  product  from  public  areas  decreased  53,000 
bushels  in  quantity  and  $157,000  in  value. 

In  the  case  of  the  market  oysters  essentially  all  of 
the  product  is  taken  from  private  areas,  only  15,000 
bushels,  valued  at  $12,000,  out  of-  the  total  market 
oyster  product  of  920,000  bushels,  valued  at  $884,000, 
being  from  public  areas  in  1908.  In  quantity  the 
oysters  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries  exceeded  those 
from  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  the  proportion  of 
nearly  five  to  one.  The  vessel  catch  comprised  chiefly 
seed  oysters.  The  following  tabular  statement  gives 
the  distribution  of  the  oyster  product  between  the 
vesseji  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and 
between  public  and  private  beds : 


OYSTER  product:  1908. 

KIND  AND  SOURCE. 

Total. 

Vessel  fisheries. 

Shore  and  boat 
fisheries. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Ouanttiy 
bushels). 

Value. 

Quan- 
tity 

(bush- 
els). 

Value. 

Total 

2,586,000 

?1, 369,000 

2,122,000 

$988,000 

464,000 

3380  000 

Market  oysters 

920,000 

884,000 

628,000 

575,000 

292,000 

309,000 

From  public  areas. 
From  private  areas 

15,000 
904,000 

1,667,000 

12,000 
872,000 

485,000 

4,500 
623,000 

1,494,000 

2,300 
573,000 

413,000 

11,000 
281,000 

173,000 

9,600 
299,000 

71,000 

From  public  areas. 
From  private  areas 

772,000 
895,000 

236,00) 
248,000 

623,000 
871,000 

173,000 
240,000 

148,000 
24,000 

63,000 
8,100 

Squeteague. — Squeteague  ranked  second  in  value 
among  the  products  of  the  New  Jersey  fisheries. 
Practically  all  of  the  catch  of  this  species  was  taken 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  quantity  and  the 
value  of  the  catch  have  increased  steadily,  as  is  shown 
by  the  following  comparison  with  previous  canvasses: 


YEAR. 

SQUETEAGUE 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds'). 

Value. 

1908.. 

11,814,000 
10,699,000 
8,07»,0O0 
4,430,000 

$342,000 
253,000 
181  000 

1904 

1897.. 

1880 

133,000 

Hard  clams. — Hard  clams  ranked  next  to  squeteague 
in  value,  nearly  all  of  the  product  being  from  the 


shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  following  statement 
shows  that  the  hard-clam  product  has  been  decreasing 
in  value  since  1897: 


BARD-CLAM  PRODUCT. 

YBAB. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908 

273,000 
271,000 
691,000 
392,000 

$318,000 

1904 

S.W.OOO 

1897 

544,000 

1880 

196,000 

Shad. — This  species  ranked  fourth,  with  a  catch 
valued  at  $229,000.  All  of  the  shad  product  was  taken 
by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  decrease  from  the 
amounts  reported  in  former  years  has  been  considera- 
ble, as  indicated  in  the  following  statement: 


SHAD  PRODUCT. 

TEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1608.                  

3,004,000 
4.338,000 
13,001,000 

$229,000 

1904                                    

239,000 

1837             

343,000 

Cod. — The  cod  product  of  New  Jersey  in  1908  was 
3,767,000  pounds,  valued  at  $130,000.  More  than 
three-fifths  of  this  quantity  was  taken  in  the  vessel 
fisheries.  The  total  catch  of  1904  was  far  below  that 
of  1897  or  of  1908,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  compara- 
tive statistics  which  follow. 


COD   PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 

(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                 

3,767,000 
l,262,0a) 
3,482,000 

$130,000 

1904                   

54,000 

1897                                                

71,000 

Sea  bass. — Another  important  species  was  sea  bass. 
About  two-thirds  of  the  product  was  taken  in  shore 
and  boat  fisheries.  The  catch  has  steadily  increased 
since  1897,  as  the  following  comparison  shows: 


SEA-BASS  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

3,161,000 
2,572,000 
2,131,000 

$123,000 

1904                                         

98,000 

1897 

74,000 

' 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— NEW  JERSEY— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


193 


TOTAL. 

PEODDCT  CAUGHT  BY- 

- 

STEdES. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

74,827,000 

53,009,000 

30,285,000 

1539,000 

8,382,000 

$332,000 

4,515,000 

$310,000 

9,049,000 

$108,000 

449,000 

$22,000 

21,548,000 

$1,758,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

1,309,000 
1,850,000 

678,000 
2,054,000 

220,000 

63,000 

3,767,000 

790.000 

253,000 

650,000 

20,000 
181,000 
207,000 

36,000 
601,000 

12,417,000 

7,600 

140,000 

17,000 

84,000 

1,196.000 
3,161.000 
62,000 
3,004,000 
3,708,000 

7,500 

7,100 

265,000 

11,814,000 

63,000 

132,000 
9,700 
74,000 

112,000 
11,000 
19,000 

282,000 
63,000 
4,607,000 
115,000 
4,900 
100,000 

1,100 

5,600 

'287,000 

*  2, 184, 000 
'205,000 
•99,000 

'  107,000 

'6,330,000 

» 5, 402, 000 

>»G,266,000 
"3,000 

12,000 
99,000 
22,000 
61.000 
16,000 

5,300 

130,000 

19,000 

22,000 

25,000 

600 
1,000 
5,600 
3,400 
14,000 

43,000 
300 

11,000 
1,300 
1,100 

35,000 

123,000 

200 

229,000 

44,000 

1,500 
1,800 
3,100 
342,000 
7,400 

13,000 
10,000 
6,900 
3,500 
300 
400 

9,100 
6,200 
18,000 
16,000 
1,000 
3,100 

1,000 

300 

1,400 

318,000 
11.000 
7,000 

12,000 

872,000 

236,000 

248,000 
2,300 

270,000 

204,000 

37.8,000 

2,036,000 

20,000 

6,500 
846,000 
467,000 

2,700 
195,000 

11,000 

175,000 

207,000 

5,900 

460.000 

5,807,000 

3,200 
12,000 
14,000 
51,000 

1,800 

400 
20,000 
10,000 

200 
6,600 

200 
1,400 
5,600 

700 
9,700 

28,000 

400 

871.000 

192,000 

14,000 

48,000 

7,900 

400 

14,000 

737,000 

2,800 

4,200 

105,000 

22,000 

100 

37,000 

100 

200 

11,000 

1,900 

1,015,000 

24,000 

2,200 

200 

34,000 

31,000 

8,200 
1,400 
100 
C) 
2,900 

2,500 

2,400 
14,000 
2,500 

100 
800 
200 

6,000 

(«) 

Carp,  Gennan 

Catfish 

800 

4,200 
1,000 

(") 

600 
100 

100 

(I) 

Cod 

2,920,000 

241,000 

200 

114,000 

8,400 
2,000 

110,000 
7,000 

m 

4,800 

300 
(') 

93,000 
30,000 
38,000 

2,100 
2,800 
1,700 

Eels 

4,500 
28,000 

400 
1,100 

22,000 
273,000 

2,400 
11,000 

193,000 

16,000 

Hake 

i,266 

(»), 

2,200 

100 

Kingfish 

20,000 

2,000 

3,400 
37,000 

18,000 
1,500 

40,000 
5,500 

300 
4,200 

100 

100 

3,600 

400 

4,300 
100 

6,582,000 
6,100 
63,000 
6,000 

400 
(') 

14,000 

300 

5,000 

500 

800 
2,900 

10,000 

100 
200 

200 

Mullet 

Percli,  white 

5,»00 

1,100 

84,000 

324,000 

131,000 

02,000 

69,000 

3,522,000 

200 

100 

1,100 

9,400 
0,900 
200 
5,300 
41,000 

21,000 

1,-100 

500 

28C>,000 
2,971,000 

1,400 
100 

m 

10,000 
114,000 

9,600 
2,200 

800 
200 

200 

(•) 

Perch,  yellow 

500 
1,400 

(') 

683,000 
46,000 

16,000 
2,100 

3,000 
10,000 

200 
400 

Sliad 

1,700 
53,000 

100 
800 

2,748,000 
123,000 

208,000 
2,000 

174,666' 

15,000 

21,000 
10,000 

1,800 
200 

7,600 

1,500 

Spanish  maclcerel 

Spot 

6,000 

247,000 

10,035,000 

10.000 

12,000 
900 

1,600 

2,800 

281,000 

1,100 

1,200 
1,000 

300 

3,000 

562,000 

7,400 

100 

200 

21,000 

900 

800 

200 

4,500 

815,000 

19,000 

200 

24,000 

2,700 

385,000 
8,600 

120,000 

8,800 

29,000 

1,300 

14,000 
1,600 

12,000 

9,000 

2,600 

100 

28,000 
7,700 

1,300 
1,000 

Sturgeon 

Suckers 

44,000 
22,000 

3,300 
900 

400 
200 

(•) 

400 

(«) 

Tautog 

6,300 

100 

84,000 
11,000 
3,900 

2,400 
300 
100 

Tomcod  -  -  . 

All  other 

11,000 
500 

200 
(') 

2,  GOO 

m 

1,700 

100 

20,000 

200 

261,000 
60,000 
24,000 

115,000 
3,900 

8,900 

Crabs,  soft        

1,000 

100 

2,000 

200 

5,900 

4,583,000 

18,000 

100 

Lobster 

16,000 

100 
100,000 

200 
3,100 

800 

Squid         

Terrapin 



1,100 

100 

'287,000 

•2,184,000 

'206,000 

•99,000 

'107,000 

•8,330,000 

•5,402,000 

'•6,266,000 
"3,000 

1,000 

Turtles 

3,300 

100 

400 

n 

1,800 

200 

(') 

Mussels * 

1,400 

Clams,  hard 

318,000 

11,000 

Clams,  surf 

7,000 

Oysters,    marlret,    from 

12,000 
872,000 
236,000 

Oysters,    market,    from 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pub- 



Oysters,  seed,  from  prl- 



248,000 

2,300 

I  Includes  apparatiis,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  21.019,000  pounds,  valued  at  51,703,000:  eel  and  lobster  traps  and  pots,  299,000  pounds,  valued  at  $32,000: 
dip  nets,  113,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,000;  mink  and  muslcrat  traps,  3,000  pounds,  valued  at  82,300;  spears,  9,200  pounds,  valued  at  $800;  shrimp  nets,  3,900  poimds,  valued 
at  $800;  and  minor  apparatus,  70,000  po\mds,  valued  at  $9,900. 

"  Less  than  $100.  '  273,000  bushels.  •  12,000  bushels.  •  904,000  bushels.  '•  895,000  bushels. 

»  29,000  bushels.  '  20,000  bushels.  '  15,000  bushols.  »  772,000  bushels.  "  9,100  skins. 

76786°— 11 13 


194 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— NEW  JERSEY— PRODUCTS   OF   SHORE   AND   BOAT   FISHERIES:   1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUQHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

GUI  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pomids). 

Value. 

Total            

49,007,000 

Jl, 873,000 

30,285,000 

$539,000 

4,486,000 

$305,000 

4,806,000 

$196,000 

2,582,000 

$65,000 

447,000 

$22,000 

6,402,000 

$747,000 

Fish: 

1,309,000 
1,779,000 

674,000 
2,054,000 

220,000 

63,000 

1,417,000 

661,000 

242,000 

638,000 

20,000 
181,000 
207,000 

35,000 
482,000 

6,533,000 

7,000 

138,000 

17,000 

84,000 

683,000 

2,088,000 

62,000 

3,004,000 

3,708,000 

7,500 

7,100 

255,000 

11,306,000 

53,000 

123,000 
8,700 
74,000 

112,000 
11,000 
19,000 

186,000 

63,000 

4,607,000 

109,000 

4,900 

100,000 

1,100 

5,500 

•247,000 

<2,043,000 

•205,000 

•99,000 

'75,000 

•1,967,000 

•1,038,000 

10  170,000 
"3,000 

12,000 
94,000 
22,000 
61,000 
10,000 

5,300 
40,000 
16,000 
21,000 
25,000 

600 

1,600 

6,600 

3,400 

12,000 

30,000 
300 

11,000 
1,300 
1,100 

19,000 

84,000 

200 

229,000 

44,000 

1,500 
1,800 
3,100 
329,000 
7,400 

12,000 

8,800 

6,900 

3,500 

300 

400 

6,400 
6,200 
18,000 
16,000 
1,000 

3,100 

1,000 

300 

1,200 

301,000 
11,000 
7,000 

9,600 

299,000 

63,000 

8,100 
2,300 

270,000 

204,000 

378,000 

2,030,000 

20,000 

5,500 
845,000 
457,000 

2,700 
196,000 

11,000 

175,000 

207,000 

5,900 

460,000 

5,807,000 

3,200 
12,000 
14,000 
51,000 

1,800 

400 
20,000 
10,000 

200 
6,500 

200 
1,400 
5,000 

700 
9,700 

28,000 

14,000 

737,000 

2,800 

4,200 

165,000 

22,000 

100 

37,000 

100 

200 

11,000 

1,900 

400 

808,000 

190,000 

14,000 

44,000 

7,800 

40O 

1,015,000 
17,000 

8,200 
1,100 

2,400 
14,000 

100 
800 

6, 000 

(') 

Bluefish 

Butlerfish 

2,500 
800 

4,200 
1,000 

200 

(=) 

500 
100 

34,000 
31,000 

2,900 
2,500 

Catfish 

100 

(») 

Cod       

571,000 

198,000 

200 

110,000 

8,400 
2,000 

20,666 
6,100 

m 

4,700 

300 
(') 

6,000 
28,000 
33,000 

100 
2,700 
1,500 

Eels 

4,500 
28,000 

400 
1,100 

22,000 
271,000 

2,400 
11,000 

184,000 

16,000 

Haddock 

Hake 

1,200 

m 

2,200 

100 

Kingnsh    

3,400 
18,000 

18,000 
1,600 

39,000 
5,500 

300 
2,000 

lOO 

100 

3,500 

400 

20,000 

2,000 

4,300 

400 

800 
2,800 

10,000 

100 
200 

200 

Mackerel 

Menhaden       

098,000 

6,100 

63,000 

6,000 

1,400 
300 

6,000 
500 

Mullet 

Perch,  white 

6,800 

1,400 

84,000 

324,000 

131,000 

62,000 

59,000 

3,522,000 

200 

100 

1,100 

9,400 
6,900 
200 
5,300 
41,000 

21,000 

1,400 

600 

231,000 
1,944,000 

1,400 
100 

m 

8,300 
76,000 

9,500 
2,200 

800 
200 

200 

m 

Perch,  yellow... 

Pollack 

Scup       

500 
1,400 

S 

26,000 
400 

1,000 

3,000 
10,000 

200 
400 

Sea  robin    

Shad 

2,748,000 
123,000 

208,000 
2,000 

1,700 
63,000 

100 
800 

174,000 

15,000 

21,000 
10,000 

1,800 
200 

Silver  hake 

Smelt 

7,500 

1,500 

Rpftnish  TTia/^kp.rpl 

6,000 

247,000 

10,035,000 

10,000 

12,000 
900 

1,600 

2,800 

281,000 

1,100 

1,200 
1,000 

800 

200 

300 

3,700 

620,000 

7,400 

100 

200 

20,000 

900 

Spot                

4,500 

338,000 

19,000 

200 
13,000 
2,700 

385,000 
8,600 

111,000 

7,700 

29,000 

1,300 

14,000 
1,600 

11,000 

7,800 

2,600 

100 

28,000 
7,700 

1,300 
1,000 

Striped  bass 

Caviar 

Suckers 

44,000 
2,200 

3,300 
900 

400 
200 

(') 

400 

m 

Tautog 

6,300 

100 

84,000 
11,000 
3,900 

2,400 
300 
100 

Tomcod 

All  other 

11,000 
500 

200 
(') 

2,600 

m 

1,700 

100 

20,000 

200 

165,000 
60,000 
24,000 

109,000 
3,900 

5,200 

5,900 

100 

Ciabs,  soft 

1,000 

100 

2,000 

200 

4,683,000 

18,000 

Lobster     

15,000 
800 

1,000 
100,000 

200 
3,100 

Bquid     

Terrapin       

1,100 

100 

•247,000 

•2,043,000 
•205,000 
•99,000 

'75,000 

•1,967,000 

'1,038,000 

10  170,000 
"3,000 

1,000 

3,300 

100 

400 

m 

1,800 

200 

(») 
1,200 

301,000 
11,000 
7,000 

Mussels ....         

Clams,  hard 

rittms,  surf 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 

9,600 

299,000 

83,000 

8,100 
2,300 

Oysters.market,  from  private 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 

Skins,  mink  and  muskrat 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  5, 919,000pounds,  valued  at  $694,000;  eel  and  lobster  pots  and  traps,  284,000  pounds,  valued  at  530,000: 
dip  nets,  113,000  potmds,  valued  at  ^9,600:  mink  and  muskrat  traps,  3,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,300;  spears,  9,200  pounds,  valued  at  $8CK);  shrimp  nets,  3,900  pounds,  valued 
at  $800;  and  minor  apparatus,  70,000  poiuids,  valued  at  $9,900. 

»  Less  than  $100.  <  255.000  bushels.  « 12,(l(yi  bushels.  »  281.000  bushels.  "  24.000  bushels. 

>  26,000  bushels.  •  20,000  bushels.  '  11,000  bushels.  •  148,000  bushels.  "  9,100  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— NEW  JERSEY— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


195 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus.* 

Quantitv 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

25,820,000 

»1, 190,000 

16,130,000 

(1,009,000 

3,676,000 

$137,000 

7.067,000 

144,000 

47,000 

$6,000 

Fish: 

71,000 
4,100 

4,700 
200 

m 

90,000 
2,900 

700 

400 

2,200 

13,000 

200 

17,000 

40,000 

13,000 

1,000 

1,100 

3,700 

800 

200 

17,000 

2,300 
573,000 
173,000 
240,000 

64,000 
1,900 

4,400 
100 

7,100 

2,200 

200 

300 
100 

200 

2..'?49,000 

129,000 

11,000 

11,000 

19,000 

5,884.000 

1,500 

613,000 
1.07.3,000 

.W8,000 
8,700 
1,000 

95,000 

6,100 

3  40,000 

•140,000 

» 32, 000 
•4,303,000 
•  4,364,000 
'6,096,000 

2,349,000 
43,000 

90,000 
900 

87,000 

1,700 

5,000 

lOO 

5,884,000 

2,000 

100 
200 

m 

13,000 

9,200 
2,000 
19,000 

600 

4,400 

200 

100 

Mnr-kf-Tfi) 

2,200 

i,s66 

200 

56,000 

1,027,000 

32,000 

1,900 

38,000 

1,300 

858,000 
46,000 
476,000 

15,000 
2,100 
11,000 

8,700 

1,000 

1.000 

1,100 

96,000 

3,700 

6,100 

800 

3  40.000 
'140,000 

5  32,000 
«  4,  .303. 000 
•4.364.000 
'6,096,000 

200 
17,000 

2,300 
573,000 
173,000 
240,000 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Gill  nets,  30,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,400;  eel  and  lobster  pots  and  traps,  15,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  and  Syke  and 
hoop  nets,  2,000  pounds,  valued  at  $100. 

2  Less  than  $100.  34,000  bushels.  « 18,000  bushels.  '  4,500  bushels.  •  623,000  bushels.  '  871,000  bushels. 


NEW    YORK. 

In  the  value  of  fishery  products  New  York  ranked 
third  in  1908,  being  surpassed  only  by  Massachusetts 
and  Virginia.  The  total  value  of  such  products  was 
$4,594,000,  or  9  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  United 
States.  The  chief  fishing  grounds  of  the  state  are  Lake 
Erie,  Lake  Ontario,  the  Hudson  River,  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  the  Atlantic  coast  region.  The  first  two 
bodies  of  water  are  included  in  the  Great  Lakes  district, 
while  the  remainder  constitute  the  Atlantic  coast  dis- 
trict. New  York  is  thus  peculiar  in  having  both  fresh 
and  salt  water  fisheries  of  considerable  importance  and 
in  having  fresh-water  fisheries  in  the  two  natural  divi- 
sions, the  Hudson  River  being  included  in  the  Atlantic 
coast  district. 

A  summary  of  the  general  statistics  of  the  fisheries 
of  the  state  for  1908  is  given  in  the  following  statement : 

Number  of  persons  employed 6, 775 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $2, 058, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 362, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 1, 413, 000 

Value  of  products 4, 594, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — Prior  to  the 
census  of  1908  no  report  covering  all  of  the  fisheries  of 
New  York  had  been  made  for  any  one  year,  although 
statistics  of  the  fisheries  of  Lake  Erie  and  Lake  Ontario 


have  been  included  since  1880  in  canvasses  of  the  Great 
Lakes,  and  figures  for  the  fisheries  of  the  state  along 
the  Atlantic  coast  have  been  shown  in  the  reports  of 
the  Middle  Atlantic  states. 

In  the  next  table  the  principal  items  from  the  re- 
ports on  the  fisheries  of  these  two  districts  are  given, 
and  composite  figures  for  certain  combinations  of  years 
are  presented  as  totals  for  the  state. 

The  number  of  persons  employed  as  shoresmen  and 
the  investment  in  shore  and  accessory  property  and 
cash  capital  are  excluded  from  the  next  table  because, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  reports  of  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  forcertain  years  included  with  the  aboveitems, 
respectively,  the  number  of  men  and  the  amount  of 
capital  employed  in  the  wholesale  fishery  trade  and  in 
shore  industries  related  to  the  fisheries,  the  statistics  se- 
cured by  that  bureau  are  in  these  respects  not  compar- 
able with  the  census  returns. 

A  comparison  of  the  returns  for  1908  with  those  for 
1903-4  shows  large  decreases  in  every  branch  of  the 
industry,  including  one  of  17  per  cent  in  the  total 
amount  invested  in  vessels,  boats,  and  apparatus  of 
capture,  and  one  of  28  per  cent  in  the  value  of  the 
products.  The  figures  were  in  fact  higher  for  1903-4 
than  for  any  other  canvass,  except  that  the  number  of 
vessels  was  smaller  than  in  1888-1890  and  the  quantity 
of  products  smaller  than  in  1880. 


196 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Persona 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

EQUIPMENT.                                                                     1                   PRODUCTS. 

DISTRICT  AND  YEAR. 

Total 
value. 

Vessels. 

Boats. 

Apparatus 
of capture 
(value) . 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Number. 

Value,  in- 
cluding 
outfit. 

Number. 

Value. 

Value. 

Total: 

1908 

6,172 
9,732 
8,187 
7,242 
5,650 

$2,419,000 
2.931,000 
1,636,000 
1,867,000 
1,458,000 

643 
711 
655 
745 
541 

$1,750,000 

2,181,000 

1,054,000 

1,318,000 

778,000 

3,131 
5,195 
4.510 
4,126 
3,441 

$308,000 
346,000 
293,000 
247,000 
290,000 

$362,000 
404,000 
289,000 
301,000 
390,000 

76,485,000 
281,844,000 
117,516,000 
197,754.000 
333,523.000 

$4,594,000 
6,418,000 
3,ia4,000 
3,604,000 
4,381,000 

1903-4 

1897-1899  . 

1888-1890 

18S0 .  .              

Atlantic  coast  district: 

1908 

5,146 
8,496 
6,937 
5,864 

1,026 
1,236 
1,250 
1,378 

2,274,000 
2,717,000 
1,499,000 
1,711,000 

145,000 
214,000 
136,000 
156,000 

629 

686 
643 
738 

14 
25 
12 

7 

1,698,000 
2,090.000 
1,012,000 
1,294,000 

51,000 
91,000 
42,000 
24,000 

2,858 
4,894 
4,089 
3,590 

273 
301 
421 
536 

278,000 
321,000 
274,000 
211,000 

29,000 
25,000 
18,000 
37,000 

298,000 
306,000 
213,000 
206,000 

64,000 
98,000 
75,000 
95,000 

71.474,000 
277,050,000 
109,556,000 
189,066,000 

5,011,000 
4,194,000 
7,961,000 
8,088,000 

4,390.000 
6  231  000 

1904 

1897 

3,392,000 
3,348,000 

203,000 
1&S,000 

1888.                

Great  Lakes  district: 

1908 

1903 

1899 

1890 

257,000 

In  the  Atlantic  Coast  district  there  has  been  the  same 
tendency  toward  an  increase  in  the  various  items  up 
to  1904  and  toward  a  sudden  decrease  after  that  date. 
In  the  Great  Lakes  district  the  number  of  fishermen 
has  steadily  decreased,  but  up  to  1903  the  number  and 
value  of  vessels  increased.  The  number  of  boats  in 
this  district  has  decreased,  but  since  1899  their  total 
value  has  advanced,  as  a  result  of  the  increasing  use 


of  motor  boats.  The  amount  invested  in  apparatus 
of  capture  in  the  fisheries  of  the  Great  Lakes  was  less 
in  1908  than  at  any  previous  canvass,  but  in  the  value 
of  the  products  there  was  an  increase  from  1903  to 
1908  of  $16,000,  or  8  per  cent. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  table  gives  the 
number  of  persons  employed  in  the  fishing  industry 
of  New  York  in  1908: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

Total. 

Proprietors 
and  inde- 
pendent 

fishermen. 

Salaried 
employees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total 

6,775 

■3,270 

53 

3,462 

$1,177,000 

$45,000 

'$1,133,000 

Vessel  fisheries            

2,239 
314 

3,619 
603 

501 

76 

2,693 

48 

1,690 
238 
921 
603 

700,000 
104,000 
231,000 
142,000 

40,000 

660,000 
104,000 
227,000 
142,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

6 

4,800 

AOantlc  coast  district 

6,749 

2,380 

53 

3,316 

1,127,000 

45,000 

1,082.000 

Vessel  fisheries                   .                          ... 

2,167 
314 

2,.675 
603 

1,429 

491 

76 

1,813 

48 

1, 618 
238 
&i7 
603 

822 

665,000 
104,000 
216,000 
142,000 

269,000 

40,000 

(joj;  QQQ 

Transporting  vessels. .". 

104,000 
211  000 

shore  and  boat  fishtaies.                     .        .  .             .          ....          

6 

4,800 

shoresmen      

142,000 
252,000 

688 

19 

17,000 

Vessel  fisheries                 .                     .... 

453 

61 

017 

298 

4,320 

126 

22 

440 

19 

308 

39 

177 

298 

2,494 

158,000 
15,000 
67,000 
28,000 

858.000 

17,000 

141,000 
15,000 
67,000 
28,000 

830  000 

Transporting  vessels  

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen. 

All  other  waters  

1,792 

34 

27,000 

1,704 
263 

2.058 
305 

1,026 

365 

64 

1,373 

29 

1,310 
199 
680 
305 

136 

508,000 
89.000 
148,000 
113,000 

51,000 

23,000 

485,000 
89,000 
143,000 
113,000 

51,000 

5 

4,800 

Shoresmen        .  .                          

Great  Lakes  district 

890 

Vessel  fisheries                   

82 
944 

730 

10 

830 

•615 

72 
64 

116 

35.000 
16,000 

48.000 

35,000 
16,000 

48,000 

Lake  Erie 

82 
648 

296 

10 
605 

275 

72 
43 

21 

35,000 
13,000 

2,900 

35,000 
13,000 

2,900 

f^hnrp  (^Tid  hnfit  fishPri**^                                                                                   ,  ,    . 

Lake  Ontario  (shore  and  boat  fisheries) 

>  Exclusive  of  112  proprietors  not  fishing. 


*  Includes  prorisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  1157,000. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


197 


Of  the  total  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  state,  including  shoresmen,  5,749,  or 
85  per  cent,  were  reported  for  the  Atlantic  coast 
district.  The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  credited 
with  53  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  persons  em- 
ployed. The  number  of  proprietors  and  independent 
fishermen  was  much  higher,  relative^,  for  the  Great 
Lakes  district  than  for  the  Atlantic    coast   district, 


being  87  per  cent  of  all  persons  employed  in  the  case 
of  the  former  district  and  only  41  per  cent  in  the  case 
of  the  latter. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  total  investment 
in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  was  $3,832,000.  The 
amounts  represented  by  the  principal  items  are  shown 
in  detail  in  the  following  table: 


TAI.UI  OF  IQ01PUENT  AND  OTHER  CAPITAL: 

1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Aggregate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Great  Lakes  district. 

Total. 
t3, 666, 000 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  otlier 
waters. 

Total. 

Lake  Erie. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Total 

J3, 832, 000 

1979,000 

»2, 687, 000 

$166,000 

tl31,000  j         t35,00O 

Vfiffw'^,  '"''IniiiTig  onffif , . 

1,750,000 

1,406,000 

783,000 

664,000 

119,000 

614,000 

426,000 

188,000 

8,000 

344,000 

209,000 

173,000 

37,000 

135,000 

117,000 

18,000 

300 

308,000 

187,000 

42,000 

61,000 

18,000 

362,000 

114,000 

248,000 

665,000 

747,000 

1,698,000 

1,354,000 

732,000 

622,000 

110,000 

614,000 

426,000 

188,000 

8,000 

344,000 

209,000 

173,000 

37,000 

135,000 

117,000 

18,000 

300 

278,000 

162,000 

40,000 

58,000 

18,000 

298,000 

87,000 

211,000 

647,000 

746,000 

392,000 
335,000 
305,000 
259,000 
47,000 
30,000 
28,000 
1,800 

1,307,000 

1,019,000 

427,000 

364,000 

03,000 

584,000 

398,000 

187,000 

8,000 

288,000 

171,000 

141,000 

30,000 

117,000 

102,000 

15,000 

51,000 
51,000 
51,000 
42,000 
9,100 

51,000  ' 

Fishing 

51,000  1 

Steam  and  motor 

61,000  '   - 

42,000 
9,100 

Outfit  .                  .             -      .     .. 

Sail 

'          

Vessels 

1 

1 

Other  ..  .                   

66,000 
39,000 
32,000 

6,600 
17,000 
16,000 

2,700 
300 
67,000 
41,000. 
12,000 
11.000 

2,200 
80,000 

8,700 
71,000 
183,000 
258,000 

■       1 

Steam  and  motor         

Outfit..          

Sail 

Vessels..   .  .        

Other.   ..             

Boats 

211,000 
120,000 
28,000 
47,000 
10,000 
217,000 
78,000 
139,000 
464,000 
487,000 

29,000 

25,000 

1,200 

2,900 

100 

64,000 

27,000 

37,000 

19,000 

2,200 

18,000 

17,000 

300 

1,200 

11,000 

Steam  and  motor. .  ..          

8,800 

Sail 

800 

Row                       

1,700 
'  lOO 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

49,000 
27,000 
22,000 
11,000 
2,200 

16,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

16,000 

7,900 

Cash  

The  number  and  tonnage  of  the  vessels  and  the  number  of  the  boats  were  as  follows : 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 

Aggregate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Great  Lakes  district. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  other 
waters. 

Total. 

Lake  Erie. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Vessels: 

Fishing — 

509 
7,613 

236 
3,262 

220 

4,351 

63 

134 

2,862 

62 
992 

71 
I,7flO 

1 

80 

3,131 

458 

306 

2,215 

152 

495 
7,397 

222 
3,046 

220 

4,351 

53 

134 
2,862 

62 
992 

71 
1,790 

1 
80 
2,858 
394 
286 
2,030 
149 

143 

1,960 

71 
1,444 

72 
516 

362 
5,437 

161 
1,602 

148 

3,886 

63 

104 
2.306 

4S 

790 

59 
1,516 

14 
216 

M 
216 

14 

216 

M 

216 

Tonnage                         

Steam  and  motor- 
Number 

Sail-                                                                                           9 



Transporting— 

30 
566 

17 
202 

12 
274 

1 
80 

764 
98 
73 

631 
62 

Tonnage          

Steam  and  motor- 

Sail— 

other- 

Number                     

Boats,  nnmber                 .    .        

2,094 

296 

212 

1,499 

87 

273 
64 
21 

186 
3 

111 
34 
5 

72 

162 

30 

Sail 

U 

Row 

113 

Other 

3 

198 


FISHERIES  QF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  largest  investment  was  in  vessels,  46  per  cent 
of  the  total  capital  being  invested  in  fishing  and 
transporting  vessels  and  their  outfits.  From  1903-4  to 
1908  there  was  an  increase  of  3  in  the  number  of 
fishing  vessels,  accompanied  by  a  decrease  of  2,703 
in  the  net  tonnage,  while  both  the  number  and  the 
tonnage  of  transporting  vessels  decreased,  the  falling 
off  in  number  amounting  to  70  and  that  in  net  ton- 
nage to  858.  The  total  investment  in  apparatus  of 
capture  was  $362,000,  over  two-thirds  of  which  per- 
tained to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.     In  the  Great 


Lakes  district  the  largest  investment  was  in  apparatus 
of  capture,  the  value  of  which  represented  39  per  cent 
of  the  total  investment  for  this  district. 

The  investment  in  shore  and  accessory  property  and 
the  cash  capital  reported,  which  together  represented 
over  a  third  of  the  total  investment,  were  confined 
almost  wholly  to  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries. 

The  following  table  gives  detailed  statistics  con- 
cerning the  number  of  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus 
of  capture  used: 


APPAEATUS  OP  capture:  1908. 

KIND  or  APPARATUS  AND  CLASS  OF  FISHERIE.S. 

Aggregate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Great  Lakes  district. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  other 
waters. 

Total. 

Lake 
Erie. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

All  fisheries: 

Beam  trawls 

29 

17,456 

9,676 

12,283 

160 

38S 

903 

29 

17,456 

9,098 

1,108 

160 

380 

823 

3 

3,288 

2,058 

67 

63 

18 

325 

26 

14,168 

7,040 

1,041 

97 

362 

498 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

478 
11,176 

478 

Gill  nets 

10,084 

1,091 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Seine-s                             .... 

5 
80 

5 

Another 

26 

Vessel  fisheries: 

Beam  trawls      

27 
4,461 

2,877 
5,279 

47 

77 

2 

326 

12,995 

6,699 

7,004 

113 

70 

607 

308 

27 

4,461 

2,877 

280 

47 

77 

2 

325 

12,995 

6,221 

828 

113 

70 

428 

303 

3 

595 
15 
25 
19 

1 

24 

3,866 

2,862 

256 

28 

76 

2 

318 

10,302 

4,178 

786 

69 

10 

170 

286 

Eel  and  lobster  pots 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Gill  nets 

4,999 

4,999 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc .*. 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries: 

Beam  trawls 

7 

2,693 

2,043 

42 

44 

60 

258 

17 

1 

1 

Eel  and  lobster  pots 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets           .                

478 
6,176 

478 

GiUnets 

6,085 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

79 
6 

25 

54 

5 

Products,  by  species. — The  products  of  the  New 
York  fisheries  in  1908  amounted  to  76,485,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $4,594,000,  and  are  shown  in  detail  in  Table ' 
1,  on  page  204.  MoUusks  contributed  nearly  two- 
thirds  of  the  total  value  of  all  products,  the  value  of 
oysters  alone  constituting  56  per  cent  of  the  total. 
The  value  of  the  catch  of  squeteague,  which  was  the 
most  important  species  of  fish  proper  reported  and 
which  ranked  second  to  oysters  among  all  fishery 
products,  represented  10  per  cent  of  the  total. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — Table  6,  on  page  207, 
shows  the  total  fishery  products  of  the  state,  distrib- 
uted by  species  and  by  districts.  Detailed  statistics 
of  the  products  of  the  Atlantic  coast.  Long  Island 
Sound,  Lake  Erie,  and  Lake  Ontario  districts,  by  kind 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  are  shown,  respectively, 
in  Tables  2,  3,  4,  and  5,  on  pages  205  to  207. 

As  all  of  the  mollusks,  the  most  valuable  class  of 
fishery  products,  and  all  of  the  salt-water  fish  were 
taken  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  this  district  is  credited 
with  a  large  proportion  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
Fish  contributed  31  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 


products  of  the  Atlantic  coast  district.  The  value  of 
squeteague,  wliich  is  by  far  the  most  important  species 
of  fish  caught,  combined  with  that  of  bluefish,  floun- 
ders, and  cod,  made  up  nearly  three-fourths  of  the 
entire  value  of  the  fish  caught  in  this  district.  All  the 
pike  perch,  lake  herring,  and  whitefish  were  taken  in 
the  Great  Lakes  district.  Lake  Erie  furnishing  much  the 
larger  part  of  the  value  of  each  of  these.  Some  species 
were  taken  in  the  Hudson  River  and  also  in  the  Great 
Lakes ;  e^ls  and  German  carp  were  taken  principally 
in  the  Hudson  River,  and  sturgeon  and  catfish  princi- 
pally in  the  Great  Lakes.  The  most  important  species 
taken  in  Lake  Erie  were  pike  perch  and  lake  herring. 
For  Lake  Ontario  the  principal  species  were  catfish 
and  bullheads,  pike  perch,  and  sturgeon. 

Products,  hy  class  of  fisheries. — Table  7,  on  page  208, 
gives  statistics  of  the  fishery  products  of  New  York, 
distributed  by  species  and  by  class  of  fisheries.  Tables 
8  and  10,  on  pages  209  and  210,  show  the  distribu- 
tion by  districts  of  the  products  of  the  vessel  fish- 
eries and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  respectively, 
ranked  according  to  value. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


199 


The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  distribu- 
tion, according  to  species  arranged  in  the  order  of  their 
value,  of  the  total  value  of  products  for  each  class  of 
fisheries: 

VALUE  or  PRODUCTS-   1908. 


Total 

Fish 

Squeteague 

Bluefish 

Flounders 

Cod 

Pike  pereli 

Butterfisli 

Eels 

Lake  lierring 

Scup,  or  porgy 

Sea  bass 

Carp.  German 

Sirnd 

Sturgeon  and  caviar. . 

Menhaden 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Another 

Oysters 

Clams 

Scallops 

Lobster 

All  other 


Total. 


14,594,000 


1,566,000 
451,000 
291,000 
141,000 
99, 0(X1 
08,000 
04,000 
57,000 
51,000 
45,000 
35,000 
31,000 
27,000 
23,  (XX) 
22,000 
20,000 
140.000 
2,553,000 
292,000 
98,000 
57,000 
27,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$2,860,000 


742,000 

210,000 

268,000 

.30,000 

59,000 

38,000 

400 

11,000 

25,000 

42,000 

16,000 

200 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$1,734,000 


(■) 

18,000 

200 

16,000 

1,952,000 

82,000 

(i4,000 

18,000 

2,800 


824,000 

235,000 

22,000 

111,000 

39, 0(10 

30,000 

64,000 

46,000 

26,000 

2,600 

19,000 

31,000 

27,000 

23,000 

4,000 

20,000 

124,000 

601,000 

210,000 

35,000 

40,000 

24.000 


1  Less  than  $100. 


Vessel  fisheries  are  credited  with  55  per  cent  of  the 
weight  and  62  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  New  York 
fishery  products.  Oysters,  the  most  important  prod- 
uct for  the  state  as  a  whole,  contributed  68  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  product  reported  for  vessel  fisheries 
of  the  state  as  a  whole,  70  per  cent  of  the  correspond- 
ing value  for  the  Atlantic  coast  district,  and  85  per 
cent  of  that  for  the  Long  Island  Sound  fisheries. 
Ninety-seven  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  entire 
catch  reported  for  vessels  represents  the  value  of  prod- 
uct secured  on  the  Atlantic  coast.'  The  vessels  reported 
for  Lake  Erie,  14  in  number,  contributed  products 
valued  at  $73,000.  There  were  no  vessels  engaged  in 
fishing  on  Lake  Ontario. 

In  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  as  in  the  vessel 
fisheries,  oysters  were  the  product  of  greatest  value, 
representing  35  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products. 
Nearly  all  the  scallops  were  taken  in  Long  Island 
Sound;  practically  all  the  lake  herring  came  from  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  I^ake  Erie;  and  the  pike 
and  pickerel  almost  exclusively  from  Lake  Ontario. 
The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  in  the  Atlantic  coast 
district  supplied  93  per  cent  of  the  entire  catch 
reported  for  this  class  of  fisheries. 

Some  species,  such  as  bluefish  and  scup,  were  taken 
almost  wholly  by  the  vessel  fisheries  and  others, 
notably  butterfish,  carp,  sturgeon,  and  catfish,  almost 


entirely  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.     All  of  the 
shad  product  was  from  the  latter  class  of  fisheries. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  distribu- 
tion of  the  total  value  of  products,  arranged  in  order 
of  the  value  of  their  catch,  for  the  state  as  a  whole 
and  for  each  class  of  fisheries,  is  shown  in  the  following 
tabular  statement : 


KIND   OF  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. . 

Lines 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

Seines 

Gill  nets 

Eel  and  lobster  pots. 
Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Dip  nets 

Another 


VAtCE  OF  PE0DUCT3:  1908. 


Total. 


$4,594,000 


2,954,000 
442,000 
417,000 
327,000 
246,000 
95,000 
86,000 
9,300 
18,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$2,860,000 


2,100,000 
313,000 


273,000 
118,000 
26,000 
19,000 


12,000 


Shore  and 

boat 
flshefies. 


$1,734,000 


854,000 

130,000 

417,000 

64,000 

128,000 

69,000 

67,000 

9,300 

6,800 


The  largest  catch  was  reported  for  dredges,  tongs, 
etc.,  which  took  products  valued  at  $2,954,000,  or  64 
per  cent  of  the  total.  Nearly  three-fourths  of  the 
entire  vessel  catch  and  almost  half  of  the  entire  shore 
and  boat  catch  were  taken  by  these  forms  of  appa- 
ratus. 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the 
value  of  the  catch  with  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  by 
species  and  by  class  of  fisheries: 


VALUE  OF  PRODUCT  TAKEN  WITH 
DREDGES,  TONGS,  ETC.:  1908. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  other 
waters. 

Total 

$2,954,000 

$846,000 

$2,108,000 

2,100,000 

576,000 

1.523,000 

1,952,000 

82,000 

64,000 

1,600 

400 

30O 

854,000 

499,000 
15,000 
63,000 

1.453.000 

07,000 

1.000 

1.600 

Eels                                            

400 

300 

270,000 

585,000 

001,000 

210,000 

34,000 

6,600 

1.000 

1,000 

145,000 
91,000 
34,000 

457,000 

Clams                               

119,000 

200 

6,600 

1,000 

Eels              

1,000 

Lines  were  next  in  importance  with  respect  to  the 
value  of  products  taken,  more  than  half  the  entire 
value  of  the  line  catch  representing  the  value  of  blue- 
fish, while  cod  stood  next,  contributing  22  per  cent  of 
the  total  value. 

The  value  reported  for  the  various  products  taken 
with  lines  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


200 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


VALUE  OF  PEODUCT  TAKEN  "WITH  LINES:    1908. 

CLASS  or  FISHERIES  AND  SPECIES. 

Aggregate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Great  Lakes  district. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  other 
waters. 

Total. 

Lake  Erie. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Total 

$442,000 

$397,000 

$5,700 

$391,000 

$45,000 

$5,700 

$39,000 

VftlSPl  fl(!hAri<w 

313,000 

313,000 

2,600 

310,000 

Tllnpfish .  ,  , 

243,000 
69,000 
8.000 
2,600 

130,000 

243,000 
59,000 
8,000 
2,000 

84,000 

100 
1..300 
1.100 

200 

.3,100 

243. 000 
58,000 
6,900 
2,400 

81,000 

Cod 

^ 

All  other  products.            .         ... 

8hor^  n^d  N^t  fl.<!hpr{ps  ,  , , 

45,000 

6,700 

39,000 

Cod 

36,000 
16,000 
11,000 
10,000 
8,800 
7,700 
0,300 
0,000 
5,100 
18,000 
4,400 

.36,000 
16.000 
11,000 

200 
1.300 

30,000 
15.000 
11,000 

Haddock 

10,000 
8,800 
7,700 
6,300 
5,900 
6,100 
1,300 

2,400 
2.400 

7,700 

Pike  perch 

6,600 

Pike  and  pickerel          . .                  

(') 

(') 

7,700 
0,300 
5,200 

Cattish  and  bullheads 

100 

100 

700 
100 

5.000 

All  nthpr  fiph  .  . 

17,000 
4,400 

1,600 

15,000 
4,400 

1,200 

>  Less  than  $100. 


The  entire  catch  with  pound  and  trap  nets  was 
reported  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  its 
value  formed  9  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  prod- 
ucts. Squeteague,  the  chief  species  thus  taken,  had 
a  value  exceeding  that  of  all  other  species;  flounders 


and  butterfish  were  also  taken  in  large  quantities. 
The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the  value 
of  the  product  taken  with  pound  and  trap  nets,  by 
species  and  by  districts : 


VALCB  OF  PRODUCT  TAKEN  'WITH  POtTND  AND  TRAP  NETS:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Aggregate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Great  Lakes  district. 

Total. 

Long 
Island 
Sound. 

AU  other 
waters. 

Total. 

Lake  I^ie. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Total               

$417,000 

$410,000 

$205,000 

$204,000 

$7,100 

$2,800 

$4,300 

218,000 

65,000 

64,000 

10,000 

8,000 

6,300 

4,600 

3,700 

3,400 

3,000 

31,000 

218,000 
65,000 
64,000 
10,000 
8,000 
6,300 
4,600 
3,700 
3,400 
3,000 
24,000 

77,000 
41,000 
49,000 
5,300 
6,100 
4,200 
3,100 
2,100 
2,300 
1,800 
13,000 

141,000 
23,000 
15,000 
4,700 
1,900 
2,100 
1,600 
1,000 
1,100 
1,200 
11,000 

Bluefish                                                 

Squid 

Whiting                                

7,100 

2,800 

4,300 

The  gill-net  catch  amoimted  to  7,412,000  poimds, 
with  a  value  of  $246,000.  Of  the  12,283  gill  nets 
reported,  10,084  were  used-  by  the  Lake  Erie  fisher- 
men. The  most  important  species  taken  by  these 
nets  were  pike  perch,  for  which  a  value  of  $57,000  was 


reported;  lake  herring,  for  which  a  value  of  $50,000 
was  reported;  and  squeteague,  for  which  a  value  of 
$33,000  was  reported.  The  value  of  the  gill-net 
catch,  by  chief  species,  by  class  of  fisheries,  and  by 
districts,  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


201 


VALUE  OF  PEODUCT  TAKEN  'WITH  OIU.  NETS:  1908. 

CLASS  or  nSHERIES  AND  SPECIES. 

Aggregate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Great  Lakes  district. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

Ali  other 
waters. 

Total. 

Lake  Erie. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Total 

$246,000 

SI 10, 000 

$3,500 

$107,000 

$136,000 

$121,000 

$14,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

118,000 

45,000 

900 

44,000 

73,000 

73,000 

Pike  perch 

38,000 
25,000 
19,000 
19,000 
7,700 
2,000 
6,200 

128,000 

38,000 
25,000 

38,000 
25,000 

LalvC  herring 

Squeteague  

19,000 
19,000 

200 
400 

19,000 
19,000 

Bluefish 

Wliitefch 

7,700 

7,700 

Mackerel 

2,000 
4,000 

66,000 

300 

1,700 
4,000 

03,000 

All  other  products 

2,200 
62,000 

2,200 
48,000 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

2,600 

14,000 

20,000 
24,000 
19,000 
14,000 
11,000 
9,100 
7,100 
5,200 
13,000 

20,000 

24,000 

1,600 

Shad 

24,000 

24,000 

Pike  perch 

19,000 

15,000 

4,300 

14,000 
3,700 
9,100 

800 

13,000 
3,700 
8,200 

Sturgeon 

7,500 

5,700 

1,800 

B  liicflsh 

1,000 

Whiteflsh 

7,100 
1,200 
1,700 

2,100 

1,000 

600 

6,000 

300 

1,100 

Perch .  . 

3,900 
11,000 

3,900 
10,000 

900 

The  385  seines  used  in  1908  took  18,178,000  pounds 
of  fish,  valued  at  $327,000.  Of  the  total  value,  61  per 
cent  was  contributed  by  squeteague,  or  weakfish, 
practically  all  of  which  product  was  taken  outside  of 
Long  Island  Sound  by  the  vessel  fishermen.  From  1904 
to  1908  there  was  a  decrease  of  200,511,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $664,000,  in  the  seine  catch  of  menhaden, 
but  an  increase  of  64,000  pounds,  valued  at  $10,000, 
in  that  of  Gennan  carp.  The  value  of  the  seine  catch, 
distributed  by  chief  species,  by  class  of  fisheries,  and 
by  districts,  was  as  follows: 


VALUE 

OF  PRODUCT  TAKEN  WITH    SEINES: 
1908. 

CLASS    OF    FISHERIES  AND  SFEaES. 

Aggre- 
gate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Lake 
Onta- 
rio. 

Total. 

Long 
Island 
Sound. 

All 
other 
waters. 

Total 

$327,000 

$324,000 

$2,800 

$321,000 

$2,700 

Vessel  fisheries 

273,000 

273,000 

(') 

273,000 

Squeteague         .  . 

197,000 
42,000 
17,000 
7,300 
6,000 
1,(W) 
1,800 

64;  000 

197,000 
42,000 
17,000 
7,300 
6,000 
1,600 
1,800 

61,000 

2,800 

197,000 
42,000 
■   17,000 
7,300 
6,000 
1,600 
1,800 

48,000 

Meniiaden 

Bluefish 

All  otlier  products 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

2,700 

Carp,  f^ennan 

23,000 
4,000 
4,400 
3,400 
3,300 
2,700 
2,600 
2,400 
2,200 
1,800 
1,300 
1,800 

23,000 
4,600 
1,700 
3,400 
3,300 
2,700 
2,600 
2,400 
2,200 
1,800 
1,300 
1,800 

■■■'too' 

""266' 
(') 

1,400 

""m 

23,000 
4,600 
1,700 
2,600 
3,300 
2,700 
2,400 
2,400 
800 
1,800 
1,300 
1,300 

Whiteliait 

2,700 

Perch 

Eels                    .  . 

Aiewives.               .  . 

Sha<l . .                          .      . 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

All  other  products.. .  . 

1  Less  than  $100. 

The  catch  made  with  pots  was  confined  to  the 
Atlantic  coast  district.  The  value  of  the  product 
taken  in  this  way  was  $95,000,  of  which  $57,000  rep- 
resented the  value  of  lobsters,  $37,000  the  value  of 
eels,  and  the  remainder  that  of,  a  few  fish  and  crabs. 
Detailed  statistics  as  to  the  value  of  the  catch  made 


with  pots,  by  species,  are  given  in  the  following  tabu- 
lar statement: 


CLASS  OF  nSHEBIES  AND  SPECIES. 

VALUE     OF 

PRODUCT    TAKEN     WITH 
pots:  1908. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  other 
waters. 

Total 

$95,000 

$17,000 

$78,000 

26,000 

2,200 

24,000 

18,000 

8,300 

200 

100 

69,000 

1,900 
300 

16,000 

8,000 

200 

Eels 

Crabs,  hard 

100 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries r 

15,000 

54,000 

Lobster 

39,000 

29,000 

900 

300 

100 

9,600 
6,200 

29  000 

Eels 

24,000 

Whitebait 

Crabs,  hard 

(') 

200 

1  Less  than  $100. 

Flounders  were  the  most  important  species  taken 
with  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  the  value  of  the  catch 
amounting  to  $56,000  and  constituting  66  per  cent  of 
the  entire  value  of  the  catch  taken  with  this  form  of 
apparatus.  Detailed  statistics  as  to  the  value  of  the 
fyke  and  hoop  net  catch,  by  species,  are  as  follows : 


VALUE    OF   PEODUCT   TAKEN   WITH    FYKE    AND 

HOOP  nets:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  FISHERIES  AND  SPECTES.    , 

Aggre- 
gate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Total. 

Long 
Island 
Sound. 

All 
other 
waters. 

Total 

$86,000 

r3,ooo 

$24,000 

$49,000 

$13,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

19,000 

19,000 

100 

19,000 

FlounHprs 

19,000 
100 

67,000 

19,000 
100 

64,000 

"'"ioo" 

24,000 

19,000 
(') 

30,000 

13,000 

37,000 
9,700 
5,fi00 
4,100 
2.900 
1,-100 
1,400 
4,300 

37,000 
3,600 
3,500 
2,200 
2,300 
1,400 
1,400 
2,100 

23,000 

•••(■■)••• 

""366" 
600 

14,000 
3,500 
3,500 
2,200 
2,300 
1,400 
1,000 
1,500 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

6,200 

2,200 

2,000 

600 

100 

Suckers 

Eels 

Perch 

Toihcod 

2  200 

1 1/ess  than  $100. 


202 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  entire  catch  with  dip  nets  was  reported  by  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Statistics  as  to  tlie  value 
of  the  catch,  by  species,  are  given  in  the  following  tabu- 
lar statement: 


VALUE  0»  PRODUCT  TAKEN  WITH  DIP  NETS:   1908. 

SPECIES. 

Aggre- 
gate. 

Atlantic  coast  district. 

Total. 

Long 
Island 
Sound. 

AH 
other 
waters. 

Lake 
Ontario. 

Total 

$9,300 

S9,300 

t300 

$9,000 

$100 

4,400 
1.400 
1,100 
900 
1,500 

4,400 
1,400 
1,100 
900 
1,600 

■••(ly 

4,400 
1,400 
1,000 
900 
1,300 

Crabs,  soft 

Suckers 

ioo 

All  other 

'  Less  than  $100. 

Principal  species. — Table  9,  on  page  209,  gives  the 
quantity  and  value  of  the  principal  fishery  products 
for  1908  in  comparison  with  the  figures  for  former 
years  for  which  returns  are  available.  The  five  leading 
species,  ranked  according  to  value  in  the  respective 
years,  were  as  follows : 


180S 

1898-99 

1890. 

1880 

Oysters. 

Squeteague. 

Clams. 

Blueflsh. 

Flounders. 

Oysters. 

Menhaden. 

Blueflsh. 

Clams. 

Sturgeon. 

Oysters. 

Clams. 
Menhaden. 
Blueflsh. 
Shad. 

Oysters. 

Menhaden. 

Clams. 

Shad. 

Squeteague. 

Oysters  and  clams  appear  among  the  five  leading 
species  for  each  of  the  four  years ;  menhaden  and  blue- 
fish  for  three  of  the  years ;  squeteague  and  shad  for  two 
years;  and  flounders  and  sturgeon  for  one  year  each. 

Oysters. — In  1904  New  York  ranked  first  among  the 
states  in  the  value  of  its  oyster  product,  but  in  1908  it 
held  second  place ,  Connecticut  ranking  first .  Although 
the  yield  was  less  than  two-thirds  the  quantity  reported 


for  Connecticut,  and  less  than  half  of  that  for  either 
Maryland  or  Virginia,  the  average  price  per  bushel  re- 
ceived by  the  fishermen  was  considerably  liiglier.  Sta- 
tistics of  oysters  taken  from  New  York  beds  by  Con- 
necticut fishermen  are  given  on  page  93.  The  tabular 
statement  at  the  foot  of  this  page  shows  for  1908  the 
distribution  of  the  quantity  and  the  value  of  market 
and  seed  oysters  taken  from  public  and  private  areas 
of  the  state  according  to  the  waters  from  which  such 
products  were  taken.  Of  the  total  yield,  95  per  cent, 
with  a  value  equal  to  98  per  cent  of  the  total  value, 
was  taken  from  private  areas. 

Statistics  of  the  oyster  catch  of  New  York  are  avail- 
able for  nine  different  years  between  1880  and  1908. 
The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  amount  and 
value  of  the  yield  and  the  average  price  per  bushel  for 
such  years: 


OYSTEE  PRODUCT. 

TEAE. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

VALUE. 

Amount. 

Average 

per 
bushel. 

1908 

2,463,000 
3,329,000 
2,313,000 
2,062,000 
2,127,000 
2,611,000 
2,351,000 
2,090,000 
1,043,000 

82,553,000 
3,780,000 
1,973,000 
1,985,000 
2,050,000 
2,749,000 
2,458,000 
2,133,000 
1,577,000 

$1.04 
1   14 

1904 

1901 

0.85 

1898 

1897 

1891 

1  05 

1890 

1889 

1  02 

1880 

The  average  catch  for  the  nine  years  was  2,265,000 
bushels,  the  average  value  $2,362,000,  and  the  average 
value  per  bushel  $1.04.  As  compared  with  these  aver- 
ages the  report  for  1908  shows  increases  of  198,000 
bushels  in  quantity  and  $191,000  in  value,  but  no 
change  in  the  average  value  per  bushel.  Detailed 
statistics  for  the  oyster  product  for  1908  are  given  in 
the  following  tabular  statement: 


OYSTER  product:  1908. 

Total. 

Long  Island  Sound. 

All  other  waters. 

KIND  AND  SOCECE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Bushels. 

Per 
cent 
dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 
dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Bushels. 

Per 
cent 
dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 
dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Bushels. 

Per 
cent 
dis- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per 
cent 

di.-)- 
tribu- 
tion. 

Total 

2,463,000 

100 

$2,553,000 

100 

770,000 

100 

$643,000 

100 

1,693,000 

100 

$1,910,000 

2,352,000 
111,000 

95 
5 

2,490,000 
63,000 

98 
2 

745,000 
25,000 

97 
3 

631,000 
12,000 

98 
2 

1,607,000 
87,000 

96 
5 

1,859.000 
51,000 

3 

Market  oysters 

1,849,000 

75 

2,173,000 

85 

342,000 

44 

375,000 

58 

1,508,000 

89 

1,798,000 

94 

1,828,000 
22,000 

614,000 

74 

1 

25 

2,155,000 
18,000 

381,000 

84 

1 

15 

341,000 
600 

429.000 

44 

(■) 

56 

374,000 
500 

208,000 

58 

(') 

42 

1,487,000 
21,000 

186,000 

88 

1 

11 

1,780,000 
17,000 

112,000 

From  public  areas 

1 
5 

Seed  oysters. . .         

From  pri  vate  areas 

524,000 
89,000 

21 
4 

336,000 
45,000 

13 
2 

404,000 
24,000 

52 
3 

257,000 
11,000 

40 
2 

120,000 
66,000 

7 
4 

79,000 
34,000 

4 

From  public  areas  .. 

2 

>  Less  than  1  per  cent. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


203 


Clams. — In  the  yield  of  hard  clams  there  was  a  de- 
crease from  1904  to  1908  of  nearly  27  per  cent.  Soft 
clams,  ■wliich  are  used  principally  in  the  cod  fisheries 
for  bait,  decreased  11  per  cent  in  quantity  between 
1904  and  1908. 

Scallops. — The  yield  of  scallops  in  1908  amounted  to 
81,000  gallons,  valued  at  $98,000,  which  represents 
a  decrease  of  31,000  gallons  in  quantity  and  $48,000  in 
value,  compared  with  the  yield  of  1904.  The  state  of 
New  York  was  second  in  rank  with  respect  to  the 
value  of  the  scallop  product  in  1908,  the  yields  in 
Massachusetts,  New  York,  and  Maine  contributing, 
respectively,  38,  31,  and  30  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
product  of  the  entire  country.  The  industry  in  New 
York  is  carried  on  principally  at  the  eastern  end  of 
Long  Island. 

Bluejish. — The  bluefish  product  was  taken  chiefly 
with  lines  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  Compared  with  1904 
there  was  a  decrease  in  quantity  from  11,414,000  to 
3,191,000  pounds,  and  a  decrease  in  value  from 
$557,000  to  $291,000. 

Butterfish. — There  was  an  increase  of  112  per  cent 
in  quantity,  and  an  increase  of  129  per  cent  in  value 
in  the  yield  of  butterfish  for  the  period  from  1904  to 
1908. 

German  carp. — This  fish,  for  which  there  is  an  in- 
creasing demand,  was  taken  chiefly  with  seines  in  the 
Hudson  River.  The  apparatus  to  be  used  in  taking 
German  carp  in  this  river  and  the  season  in  which  the 
fish  may  be  taken  are  under  the  control  of  the  State 
Forest,  Fish,  and  Game  Commission.  Larger  quanti- 
ties of  German  carp  were  caught  in  1908  than  ever 
before,  the  yield  of  406,000  pounds,  valued  at  $31,000, 
representing  an  increase  over  that  in  1903-4  of  115,000 
pounds  in  quantity  and  $14,000  in  value. 


Co<7.— The  catch  of  cod  in  1908  was  2,999,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $99,000,  an  increase  over  that  for 
1904  of  156  per  cent  in  quantity  and  of  87  per  cent  in 
value. 

Flounders. — The  flounder  catch  shows  an  increase 
in  1908  compared  with  1904  of  154  per  cent  in  weight 
and  110  per  cent  in  value.  A  product  of  4,629,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $141,000,  was  taken  in  1908,  prin- 
cipally in  nets. 

Menhaden. — The  principal  uses  of  the  menhaden 
are  for  oil  and  fertihzer,  but  a  few  are  sold  for  food. 
This  fish  is  taken  chiefly  with  seines  in  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  fisheries.  Although  it  continues  to  lead  all 
others  in  quantity,  there  was  a  large  decrease  in  the 
catch,  that  in  1908  being  12,762,000  pounds,  or  only 
about  one-seventeenth  of  that  for  1904.  The  value  of 
this  small  catch  in  1908  was  $22,000,  or  less  than  one- 
thirtieth  of  the  value  for  1904,  $694,000. 

Pike  perches. — Under  this  term  are  included  blue  pike, 
saugers,  and  wall-eyed  pike.  The  greater  part  of  the 
product  was  taken  in  Lake  Erie  with  gill  nets,  and  the 
yield  of  2,001,000  pounds,  valued  at  $68,000,  in  1908, 
shows  an  increase  over  that  for  1903  of  905,000  pounds 
in  quantity  and  of  $22,000  in  value.  The  value  of 
blue  pike  constituted  95  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
pike  perch  caught  in  1908. 

Squeieaguc—Tyxe  squeteague  taken  in  1908  had  more 
than  double  the  value  of  that  caught  in  1904.  In 
1908  the  value  of  this  species  formed  more  than  one- 
fourth  of  the  value  of  all  fish  proper  reported  for  the 
state.  It  was  surpassed  in  quantity  only  by  men- 
haden. The  catch  was  about  evenly  divided  between 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  where  this  fish  is  taken 
chiefly  in  pound  and  trap  nets,  and  the  vessel  fisheries, 
where  seines  are  the  principal  apparatus  used. 


204 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— NEW  YORK— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PBODDCT  CACQHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Lines. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  apparatus.1 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

70,485,000 

$4,594,000 

7,752,000 

S442.000 

11,006,000 

J417,000 

18,178,000 

$327,000 

7,412,000 

$246,000 

2,961,000 

$86,000 

29,186,000 

$3,077,000 

Fish: 

Albacore,  or  horse 

10,000 

654,000 

38,000 

3,191,000 

102,000 

1,229,000 
406,000 

247,000 

2,999,000 

7,500 

42,000 

736,000 

4,629,000 

424,000 

39,000 

2,044,000 
34,000 
24,000 
106,000 
58,000 

12,762,000 

19,000 

90,000 

144,000 

90,000 

1,904,000 
40,000 

56,000 
133,000 

1,294,000 

723;  000 

63,000 

360,000 

168,000 

4,000 

600 

109,000 

11,161,000 
45,000 

105,000 
8,100 

276,000 

31,000 

3,600 

81,000 
97,000 
18,000 
20,000 
199,000 

179,000 

268,000 

50,000 

680,000 

22,000 

56,000 

7,200 

423,000 

1,500 

•809,000 

'656,000 

•167,000 

'8,175,000 

« 151,000 
'12,795,000 
■«  628, 000 

"3,670,000 

"650,000 

189,000 

200 

"100 

400 

7,100 

5,100 

291,000 

5,400 

64,000 
31,000 

20,000 

99,000 

200 

600 

67,000 

141,000 

12,000 

1,000 

61,000 
4,900 
400 
6,600 
2,900 

22,000 
1,200 
8,700 
5,400 

9,600 

59,000 
2,000 

7,000 
3,600 

46,000 
36,000 
600 
27,000 
2,100 

900 

100 

2,600 

461,000 
7,600 

16,000 
7,600 

13,000 
900 
200 

3,100 
2,300 
6,300 
1,400 
6,700 

15,000 

3,700 

300 

7,400 
2,300 

100 
(•) 
67,000 

600 

223,000 

54,000 

14,000 

8,200 

18,000 

2,165,000 

45,000 

336,000 

98,000 
8,100 
(») 
(') 

10,000 

187,000 

400 

134,000 

21,000 

1,218,000 
4,700 

10,000 
51,000 

400 

2,800 

(') 

10,000 

1,300 

64,000 
100 

1,100 
1,900 

500 
318,000 

(') 
2,400 

ios.ooo 

(=) 

293,000 

i,fi66 

m 

28,000 

37,000 

m 

200 

m 

4,300 

100 

Black  bass. 

37,000 

2,073,000 

74,000 

5,100 

240,000 

3,800 

91,000 
6,800 

5,400 
271,000 

20,000 
2,000 
7,500 

6,900 
300 

300 

23,000 

1,300 
100 
200 

Butterfish           .  .. 

4,800 
35,000 

25,000 
19,000 

300 
1,700 

1,800 
900 

Carp,  German 

Catfish    aud    bull- 

24,000 
129,000 

1,400 
9,700 

72,000 

3,200 
2,500 

4,400 

59,000 
2,926,000 



6,000 
96,000 

200 

Cod 

100 

Dogfish 

42,000 

30,000 

1,087,000 

600 
2,400 
65,000 

100 

69,000 

2,383,000 

4,100 
56,000 

Eels                    .  . 

9,800 
113,000 
424,000 
39,000 

m 

100 
21,000 
16,000 

000 

4,100 

12,000 

1,000 

(>) 

m 

300 
900 

48,000 
121,000 

2,800 
4,200 

2,000 
50,000 

100 
1,900 

588,000 
276,000 

47,000 

9,700 

Haddock...     . 

Hake 

12,000 
33,000 
2,000 
60,000 
67,000 

2,012,000 

(•) 

300 
4,600 
(") 

3,600 
2,800 

3,400 

Herring,  lake 

Kingflsli  . 

2,030,000 
600 

60,000 
100 

1,800 

100 

800 

400 

lOO 

1,000 

9,600,000 

200 

100 
17,000 

Ling 

Mackerel  . .  - 

30,000 

2,300 

Maclterel,  chub 

1,150,000 

100 

41,000 

89, 000 

3,100 

1,851,000 
40,000 

300 
10,000 

200 

14,000 

1,300 

323,000 

800 

2,600 

200 

39,000 

966,000 
6,700 

54,000 

2,900 

31,000 

400 

1,600 

(') 

3,900 

3,100 

200 

56,000 
2,000 

(=) 
400 

m 

1,000 

(=) 

24,000 

m 

600 
(') 
1,500 

33,000 
1,000 

8,000 

3,200 

800 

m 

Muskallunge 

19,000 

1,200 

3,600 
9,300 

10,000 

30,000 

400 
400 

700 

1,300 

31,000 
3,200 

100 

3,200 
200 

m 

14,000 
39,000 

11,000 

300 

1,300 

1,600 

900 

m 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel... 
Pike    perch    (blue 

1,100 
65,000 
23,000 

(') 

7,700 

2,300 

2,000 
100 

100 

Pikfi  perch  (sauger). 
Pike   perch   (wall- 
eyed pike) 

Pollack 

62,000 
67,000 

6,200 
466,000 

6,600 
1,900 

300 
24,000 

2,000 
60,000 

52,000 
39,000 
61,000 
6,800 
76,000 

200 
1,200 

2,400 

3,000 

600 

900 

1,600 

1,800 

200 

Scup,  or  porgy 

1,235,000 

203,000 

1,000 

27,000 

42,000 
7,300 
(') 
1,800 

W 

m 

Shad 

3,700 

400 

600 

(.') 

91,000 

500 

Smelt 

1,400 

300 

Spanish  mackereL.. 

400 
69,000 

4,319,000 
15,000 

11,000 

300 

24,000 

12,000 

100 
1,100 

218,000 
2,000 

1,400 
300 
800 
200 

(») 
200 

5,860,000 
20,000 

600 

199,000 
3,600 

Squeteague,  or 

28,000 
2,100 

39,000 
4,900 

1,100 
300 

6,000 
4,000 

100 
1,400 

100 

200 

Striped  bass 

84,000 
400 

4,400 

m 

118,000 
18,000 

5,600 
600 

18,000 

200 

3,600 

900 

Sunfish 

(>) 

200 

Tautog 

8,800 

400 

53,000 
16,000 

1,900 
600 

4,200 
8,000 

200 
300 

1,000 

m 

14,000 
73,000 

500 
1,400 

Trout  brook  . 

18,000 

6,300 

12,000 

800 

8,200 
2,600 

700 

m 

Whitebait 

179,000 

4,800 

18,000 

900 

Whiteflsh 

4,200 

268,000 

43,000 

12,000 

400 

3,700 

200 

300 

176,000 

15,000 

Whiting 

300 
2,000 

38,000 

''loo 

500 

All  other 

2,000 
467,000 

(») 
4,700 

100 
100 

(=) 

3,100 
6,600 

ioo 

200 

200 

66,000 
22,000 

w 

1,800 

2,300 

66,000 
7,200 
6,700 

100 

600 

100 

416,000 
1,600 

< 809, 000 

» 656, 000 

«  167,000 

'8,175,000 

•151,000 

•12,795,000 

'"628,000 

"3,670,000 
u  660, 000 

67,000 
600 

Shrimp 

223,000 

64,000 

. 

14,000 

8,200 

Oysters,  market,  from 

18,000 

2,166,000 

45,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

Oysters,     seed,      from 

Oysters,     seed,      from 
private  areas 

336,000 
98,000 

gcalloDs 

187,000 
200 

8,000 
(') 

2,000 

100 

Turtles 

"ioo 

(') 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  27,749,000,pounds,  valued  at  $2,9.54,000:  eel  and  lobster  pots,  915,000  pounds,  valued  at  $95,000;  beam 
trawls,  268,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,400;  dip  nets,  144,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,300;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  108,000  pounds,  valued  at  $8,800;  and  minor  apparatus,  400 
pounds,  valued  at  $100. 

'  Less  than  $100.  »  66,000  bushels.  •  22,000  bushels.  "  524,000  bushels. 

« Less  than  100  pounds.  « 21,000  bushels.  •  1,828,000  bushels.  "81,000  gallons. 

'  101,000  bushels.  '  818,000  bushels.  '•  90,000  bushels.  >«  200  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


205 


Table  2.— NEW  YORK— FISHERV PRODUCTS  OF  ATLANTIC  COAST  DISTRICT,  EXCLUSIVE  OF  LONG  ISLAND  SOUND: 

1908. 


TOTAL. 

,   PRODUCT  CAUOHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  apparatus.i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

57.713,000 

$3,282,000 

7,322,000 

$391,000 

5,198,000 

$204,000 

18,073,000 

5321,000 

2,905,000 

$107,000 

1,892,000 

$49,000 

22,323,000 

$2,209,000 

Fish: 

Albacore,    or    horse 

10,000 

551,000 

3,106,000 

88,000 
264,000 

386,000 

111.000 

2,943,000 

7.500 

614,000 

2,724,000 

421,000 

39,000 

11,000 

22,000 

61,000 
28,000 
11,540,000 
90.000 
26,000 

106.000 

1,239,000 

672,000 

20,000 

358,000 

105,000 

4.000 

49,000 

9,424,000 
32,000 

20.000 

1,000 

108.000 

6,800 

20,000 

77,000 

199,000 

135,000 

7,400 

573.000 

22.000 

332,000 

1,500 

< 583, 000 

» 318,000 

•160,000 

'8,175,000 

M47,000 

'10,408,000 

10  458,000 

"840,000 
12  7.200 
48.000 
(") 

400 

5,300 

284,000 

4,600 

16,000 

31,000 

6,900 

97,000 

200 

48,000 

73,000 

12,000 

1,000 

1,700 

300 

3,900 
1,200 
20,000 
8.700 
1,400 

2,800 

43,000 

31,000 

300 

27,000 

600 

900 

1,700 

372.000 
5,300 

2.500 

1.300 

6,000 

300 

700 

1,300 

6,700 

1,600 

400 

7,300 

2,300 

45,000 

600 

146,000 

26,000 

14,000 

8,200 

17,000 

1,780,000 

34,000 

79,000 
1,400 
1,900 

m 

10,000 
106.000 
65,000 
12,000 
257,000 

400 

1,100 

4,700 

700 

15,000 

500 

316,000 

90,000 

6,800 

6,400 

271,000 

20,000 
2,000 
7,500 

48,000 

117,000 

2,400 

6,900 

300 

300 

23,000 

1,300 
lOO 
200 

2,800 

4,000 

108.000 
280,000 

1,600 
27,000 

17,000 

IOO 

4,300 

100 

2,671,000 
68,000 

245,000 
3,500 

Bonito 

1,300 

22,000 

25,000 
19,000 

ioo 

1,400 

1,800 
900 

Carp,  German 

Catfish     and     bull- 
heads  

21,000 
61,000 

1,400 
3,500 

72,000 

3,200 
2,500 

4,400 
200 

1,100 
2,879,000 

100 
94,000 

500 
40,000 

100 

1,600 

Cod 

100 

Eels 

9,500 

98,000 
424,000 
39,000 

600 

3,300 

12,000 

1,000 

19,000 
693,000 

1,900 
23,000 

400 
44,000 

1,700 

26,000 
1,686,000 

2,200 
33,000 

511,000 
186,000 

40,000 
7,000 

Hake 

Kingflsh 

9,900 

1,600 

800 
400 

100 

1,000 

9,600,000 

31,000 

3,200 

200 

m 

100 

17,000 

3,200 

200 

200 

C) 

Ling 

21,000 
15,000 

300 
800 

15,000 

27,000 

955,000 

3,500 

1,000 

1,100 

1,100 

400 

20,000 

2,000 

Mackerel,  chub 

985,000 

41,000 

800 

16,000 

200 

14,000 

1,300 

3,900 

100 

400 

m 

1,000 

Perch,  white 

14,000 
20,000 

1,300 
1,000 

Perch,  yellow 

2,000 

100 

60,000 

6,600 

439,000 

1,700 

200 

22,000 

30,000 
18,000 
16,000 
19,000 
4,400 

14,000 

700 
900 
1,200 
300 
600 

100 

Scup,  or  porgy 

1,235,000 

203,000 

1,000 

27,000 

42,000 
7,300 

1,800 

(') 

(') 

1 

Sea  robin 

1 

Shad 

323,000 

24,000 

3,700 

400 

500 

m 

Skates 

91,000 

500 

Smelt 

2,600 
39,000 

935,000 
6,700 

19.000 

1,000 

300 

600 
1,500 

32,000 
1,000 

2,400 
1,300 

8 

1,400 

300 

Spot 

9,000 

2,645,000 
5,900 

400 

200 

141,000 
1,000 

200 

5,817,000 
10,000 

500 

198.000 
2,700 

Squeteague,  or  weak- 
Bsh 

27,000 
2,000 

1,000 
300 

100 
1,400 

100 

(') 
200 

Caviar 

1 

30,000 
400 
600 

3,000 

179,000 

300 

2,100 

38,000 

1,700 

100 
4,800 

100 

600 

61,000 

6,200 

800 

62,000 
2,600 

3,600 
300 

1,000 

17,000 
200 

900 

Sunfish 

m 

Tautog 

2,700 

200 

16,000 
12,000 

500 
200 

Whitebait 

18,000 

900 

Whiting 

135,000 
1,300 

9,500 

1,600 
200 

All  other 

2,100 
467,000 

4,700 

soo 

100 

200 
6,600 

200 

1,200 

64,000 

22,000 

331,000 

1,500 

<S83,000 

'318,000 

•160,000 

'8,176,000 

'147,000 

'10,408,000 

l«  458, 000 

"840.000 
12  7,200 

100 

Crabs,  hard 

1,700 

2,300 

45,000 

600 

Crabs,  soft 

Lobster 

500 

100 

146,000 
26,000 
14,000 
8,200 

17,000 

Clams,  soft 

Mussels 

Oysters,    market,    from 

Oysters,    market,    from 

1,780,000 

34,000 

79,000 
1,400 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pub- 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pri- 

' 

. 

Soallops 

Squid 

48,000 

1,900 

Skins,  muskrat 

(") 

(') 

•  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  21,146,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,108,000;  eel  and  lobster  pots,  776,000  pounds,  valued  at  $78,000;  dip  nets, 
140,0)0  pounds,  valued  at  $9,000;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  92,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,500;  beam  trawls,  178,000  pounds,  valued  at  36,700;  and  minor  apparatus,  40O  pounds, 
valued  at  $100. 

2  Less  than  $100.  »  32,000  bu.ihcls.  «  21 .000  bushels.  "  120,000  bushels. 

•  Less  than  100  pounds.  •  20.000  bushels.  •  1,4,S7 ,000  bushels.  "  900  gallons. 
«  73,000  bushels.                                               » 818,000  bushels.                                              '•  66,000  bushels. 


206 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Table  3.— NEW  YORK-sFISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LONG  ISLAND  SOUND:  1908. 


PBODUCT  CAUr.HT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

am  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.! 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

13,761,000 

SI, 109,000 

5,673,000 

$205,000 

840,000 

$24,000 

111,000 

$5,700 

224,000 

$3,500 

52,000 

$2,800 

0,862,000 

SS07.000 

FJsh: 

103,000 
86,000 
J4,00O 

965,000 
6«,000 

77,000 
1,908.000 
23,  (XW 
55.000 
30,000 

1,222,000 

27,000 

35,000 

50,000 

2,500 

63.000 
60.000 
1,727,000 
14,000 
5,600 

61,000 
20,000 
133,000 
122,000 

<3,700 

'2,387,000 

'170,000 

'2,830,000 

"226,000 

•338,000 

W6.500 

92,000 

"  643,000 

5,400 

141,000 

63,000 

1,700 

6,900 

900 

49,000 

1,800 

6,600 
68,000 
3,200 
2,800 
1,800 

2,600 

700 

1,500 

4,200 

300 

1,500 

1,000 

79,000 

2,300 

600 

2,400 
1.000 
2,100 
1,200 

500 

374,000 

11,000 

257,000 

77,000 

29,000 

500 

12,000 

97,000 

100 

6,200 

100 

81,000 

69,000 

8,900 

961,000 

11,000 

300 

993.000 

23,000 

45,000 

30,000 

1,057,000 

19.000 

34.000 

23.000 

2,600 

62,000 

60,000 

1,674,000 

9,600 

5,600 

37,000 

4.600 

133.000 

118,000 

1,700 
5,300 

600 
49,000 

400 

(') 
41.000 
3,100 
2.100 
1,800 

2,300 

500 

1,500 

1,800 

300 

1,500 
1,000 
77,000 
1,600 
600 

1,400 

400 

2.100 

1,000 

20,000 

100 

1,500 
400 

Blueflsh 

2,200 
6,300 

200 
300 

13,000 

1,400 

Bon!  to 

Butt^rftshi 

3,500 

200 

Cod 

46,000 

1,500 

Eels                       

77,000 
90,000 

6  600 

797,000 

23,000 

15.000 
100 
600 

800 

h 

6,300 

400 

10,000 

200 
100 
300 

4,500 

200 

Kingflsh 

Mackerel 

Mackerel,  tlumble.eyed 

166,000 

300 

Pollack 

7,500 

600 

27,000 

200 
2,300 

Scup,  or  poruy 



Shad 

Skates 

(') 

(^) 

800 

m 

Spot 

Squeteague,  or  weakflsh 

1,500 
100 

100 

19,000 

900 

33,000 
4,100 

1,500 
700 

Tautog 

13,000 
10,000 

600 
400 

6,100 

300 

1,000 

<^) 

3,000 
5,000 

)00 
200 

Whiting 

Another 

1,300 

(=) 

2,800 

<3,700 

52,387,000 

•170,000 

'2,830,000 

8  220,000 

"338,000 

H'6,.'i00 

86,000 

"643.000 
2,300 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 
areas 

500 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

374,000 

11  000 

Oysters,    seed,    from    public 
areas 

Oysters,    seed,   from    private 
areas 

257,000 
77  000 

Clams,  hard 

Clams,  surf 

500 

Lobster 

6,700 

900 

11  000 

3,000 
140,000 
63.000 

(=) 

6,100 
100 

100 
2,000 

100 

(2) 

Squid 

All  other 

1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  6,603,000  pounds,  valued  at  $846,000:  eel  and  lobster  pots,  149,000  pounds,  valued  at  $17,000;  beam 
trawls,  90,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,700;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  17,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,300;  and  minor  apparatus,  3,000  pounds,  valued  at  $300. 

2  Less  than  8100.  <  500  bushels.  '24,000  bushels.  » 28,000  bushels.  "  800  bushels. 

»  Less  than  100  pounds.  '341 ,000  bushels.  '  404,000  bushels.  '  34,000  bushels.  i' 80,000  gallons. 

Table  4.— NEW  YORK— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  ERIE:  1908. 


Total. 


Black  bass 

Carp,  German 

Catfish  and  bullheads. . 

Lake  herring 

Lake  trout 


Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel 

Pike  perch  ( blue  pi  ke) 

Pike  perch  (sauger) 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 


Sturgeon.. 

Caviar 

Suckers 

Whiteflsh.. 
Another... 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


4,188,000 

1,800 

16,000 

14,000 

2,009,000 

6,200 

83,000 

1,700 

1,805,000 

40,000 
2,800 

42,000 
2,400 

40,000 

123,000 

2,100 


Value. 


$130,000 

100 
300 
800 
49,000 
300 

2,900 

100 

54,000 

2,000 

300 

6,600 
2,400 
1,100 
9,800 
100 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY- 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


53,000 


1,800 


13,000 


1,100 

'23,'666' 


1,000 

12,000 
500 


n 


Value. 


$6,700 


n 


100 
'766' 


"2,' 366' 


100 
2,000 

600 


m 


Pound  and  trap  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


51,000 


2,500 

200 

7,600 


1,800 

ii'bbb' 


1,600 

4,200 

300 

19,000 


1,900 


Value. 


$2,800 


«. 


200 


100 

'eoo 


200 

600 
300 
700 


Gill  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


4,084,000 


(') 

13,000 

400 

2,001.000 

6,200 

80.000 

1,700 

1,770,000 

40,000 

200 

25,000 

1,700 

21,000 

123,000 

200 


Value. 


$121,000 


200 

m 
49,000 

300 

2,800 

100 

51,000 

2,000 

(') 

4,000 

1,700 

40O 

9,800 

(') 


1  Less  than  100  pounds. 


>  Less  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  5.— NEW  YORK— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  ONTARIO:  1908.' 


207 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Lines. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Dip  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity   „  , 
(pounds).   ^*"'*- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity   y, 
(pounds)    ^*'"*- 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

('^pSS^'.Sl.  value. 

Total 

823,000 

$74,000 

266,000  $39,000 

84,000 

$4,300 

64,000  1  $2,700 

199,000 

$14,000 

219,000 

$13,000          1,800         $100 

30,000 
4,700 
122,000 
44,000 
35.000 

19,000 

3.5.  ono 

87,000 
100, 0(X) 
54,000 

37,000 

4,700 

128,000 

24,000 

18,000 

14,000 

56,000 

3,400 

5,000 

200 

12,000 

2,500 

1,700 

1,200 
1,100 
9,400 
5,000 
6,700 

6,800 

3,800 

5,400 

600 

6,300 

1.100 

5,400 

100 

36,000 

8,000 

400 
2,200 
9,600 
8,400 
4,500 

100 

1,000 

500 

100 

200 

m 

2,300 
68,000 
33,000 

1,800 

100 
6,200 
2,000 

100 

45,000 
300 

5.'i00 



Eels 

1,600 
28,000 

100 
1,500 

19,000 

1,200 

7,500 

10,000 

18,000 

600 

800 

300 
700 
700 
100 
100 

8,000 

1,100 

81,000 

100 

9,400 

200 

10,000 

400 

300 

100 

4,300 

1,600 
200 
400 

20,000 

11,000 

300 

1,800 

600 
900 

200 

65,000 

7,700 



Pike  npfpn  f  blue  oike") 

51,000 

27,000 

4,600 

6,600 
4,100 
3,000 

6,000 
12,000 

100 
200 

54,000 

2,700 

87,000 
12,000 

2,200 
300 

1,800 

100 

18,000 

6,300 

6.100 
62,000 

600 
6,000 

8,200 

700 

Whitefish 

4,200 
100 

400 

All  other 

3,200 

100 

1  All  taken  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


«  Less  than  $100. 


Table  6.- 

-NEW    YORK- 

FISHERY  PRODUCTS 

BY  DISTRICTS:  1908. 

AGGREGATE. 

ATLANTIC  COAST  CISTRICT. 

GREAT  LAKES  DISTRICT. 

SPEaES. 

Total. 

Long  Island  Sound. 

All  other  waters. 

Total. 

Lake  Erie. 

Lake  Ontario. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value.  ■ 

Total 

76,485,000 

$4,694,000 

71,474,000 

$4,390,000 

13.701,000 

51,109,000  57,713,000 

$3,282,000 

5.011,000 

$203,000 

4,188,000 

$130,000 

823,000 

$74,000 

Fish 

Sqtieteague,  or  weak- 

47,5(M,000 

11,151,000 
3,191,000 
4,029,000 
2,999,000 
2,001,000 

1,229.000 

736,000 

2,044,000 

1,294,000 

723,000 

406,000 
300.000 
113.000 
12,762.000 
247,000 

179,000 
424,000 
251,000 
90.000 
90,000 

48.000 
654,000 
106,000 

18,000 
199,000 

102,000 
144,000 
38,000 
34,000 
268,000 

133,000 
81,000 
88,000 

109.000 
97,000 

168,000 
20,000 
19,000 

290,000 

1,866,0000 

461,000 
291,000 
141,000 
99,000 
68,000 

64,000 
57,000 
51,000 
45,000 
35,000 

31,000 
27,000 
23,000 
22,000 
20,000 

16,000 
12,000 
12,000 
9,600 
8,700 

7,600 
7.100 
6,600 
6,300 
8,700 

6,400 
5.400 
6,100 
4,900 
3,700 

3,500 
3,100 
2,900 
2,000 
2,300 

2,100 
1,400 
1,200 
6,200 

2,553,000 

2,173,000 

381,000 

292.000 
98,000 
57,000 
9,700 

8,200 

8,100 

700 

42,493,000 

11,151,000 
3,191.000 
4,029,000 
2,999,000 

1,362,000 

461,000 
291,000 
141,000' 
99,000 

6,856,000 

1,727,000 
85,000 

1,906,000 
66,000 

244,000 

79,000 
0,900 

68.000 
1,800 

35,638,000 

9,424,000 
3,106,000 
2.724,000 
2,943,000 

1,119,000 

372,000 
284,000 
73,000 
97,000 

8,011,000 

203,000 

4,188,000 

130,000 

823,000 

74,000 

Cod 

2,001.000 

68,000 

1,847,000 

56,000 

isa.m 

12,000 

1,229.000 
691,000 

64,000 
85,000 

9f,5.000 
77,000 

49,000 
6,000 

204,000 
014,000 

16,000 
48,000 

Eels 

45,000 
2,044,000 

2,000 
61,000 

1,800 
2,009,000 

100 
49,000 

44,000 
38,000 

2,606 

1,700 

Scup,  orporgy.. 

1,294.000 
723,000 

386.000 

360,000 

27,000 

12,762,000 

111,000 

45.000 
35,000 

31,000 
27,000 

4,400 
22,000 

6,900 

35,666 
60,000 

1,500 
4,200 

1,259,000 
672,000 

386,000 

358,000 

21,000 

11,840.000 

111,000 

43.000 
31,000 

31,000 
27,000 

3,800 
20,000 

6,900 

.. 

Carp,  German 

Shad 

20,000 

600 

16,000 

300 

4,700 

200 

2,500 

6,600 

1,222,000 

300 

600 

2,600 



Sttirgeon  and  caviar... 

86,000 

19,000 

44,000 

9,666 

42,000 

9,600 

130,000 
179,000 

13,000 
18,000 

14,000 
123,000 

800 
9,800 

122,000 
66,000 

12,000 

Whiteflsh 

5,400 

Haddock 

424,000 

108,000 

800 

90,000 

45,000 
654,000 
106,000 

12,000 

6,100 

100 

8,700 

7,600 
7,100 
6,600 

424.000 

108,000 

800 

90,000 

32,000 

551,000 

51,000 

12,000 

6,000 

100 

8,700 

6,300' 
6,300 
3,900 

Suckers  . 

143,000 
89,000 

8,800 
9,600 

15,000 
1,700 

400 
100 

128,000 
87,000 

5,400 

Pike  and  pickerel 

9,400 

100 

14,000 
103,000 
55,000 

(') 
2,300 
1,700 
2,800 

Striped  bass 



18,000 

6,300 

18,000 

6,300 

Whitebait 

199,000 

102,000 
26,000 
(') 
34;000 

208,000 

133.000 
81,000 
68,000 

109.000 
97,000 

168,000 

5,700 
6,400 
1,400 
(') 
4,900 
3,700 

3,500 
3,100 
2,900 
2,  (DO 
2,300 

2,100 

199,000 

88.000 
20,000 
(') 

11.000 
135,000 

108,000 
20,000 
28,000 
49.000 
77,000 

105,000 

6,700 
4,600 
1,400 
(■) 
1,700 
1,000 

2,800 
700 
1,200 
1.700 
1,300 

600 

14,000 

900 

118,000 
38,000 

4,000 
6,100 

83,000 
1,800 

2,900 
100 

36,000 
36,000 

1,100 

Black  bass 

5,000 

Kinfffish 

23,000 
133,000 

27,000 
61,000 
30.000 
60,000 
20,000 

63,000 

3,200 
2,100 

700 
2,400 
1,800 
1,000 
1,000 

1,500 

Whiting 

Pollack 

Mackerel,  thimble-eyed 
Spot 

Toinfod 

Trout  lake 

20,000 
19,000 
63,000 

1,400 
1,200 
1,400 

6*,  266 

100 

25,000 

300 
"700 

i4,666 

19,000 
28,000 

1,100 

MuskaUunge 

1,100 

All  other 

238,000 

4,800 

2,8.W,000 

2,173,000 

381,000 

292,000 

98,000 

67,000 

9,700 

8,200 

8,100 

700 

122,000 

1,200 

643,000 
375.00(1 
2('«,000 

100.000 

97.000 

12,000 

100 

110,000 

3,000 

1,910.000 

1,798.000 

112,000 

180,000 

1,100 

45.000 

9,000 

8.200 

1,900 

600 

600 

Market 

"12.946,000 
< 4, 298, 000 

'1,632,000 

<  650, 000 

423,000 

602,000 

8,175,000 
189,000 
68,000 

12,940,000 
4,298,000 

1,632,000 
650,000 
423,000 
602,000 

8,17,5,000 
189,000 
65,000 

2,391.000 
3,000,000 

571,000 

043,000 

92,000 

6,400 

16.555,666 
1,299,000 

1,001.000 

7, -200 

332,000 

697,000 

8,175,000 

48.000 

1,600 

Clams 



Lobster. 

Crabs 

Mussels 

141,000 
63,000 

6,200 
100 

'  Less  than  $100. 

>  Less  than  100  pounds. 


>  1,849.000  bushels. 
<  614,000  bushels. 


» 204.000  bushels. 
'  81,000  gallons. 


208 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  7.— NEW  YORK— PRODUCTS,  BY  CLASS  OF  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

VESSEL  nSUEEIES. 

SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES. 

SPECIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

76,485,000 

14,694,000 

41,697,000 

$2,860,000 

34,788,000 

$1,734,000 

Fish:      , 

Albacore,  or  horse  mackerel 

10,000 
654,000 
38,000 

3,191,000 
102, 000 

1,229,000 
406,000 
247,000 

2,999,000 

7,500 

42,000 

736,000 

4,629,000 

424,000 
39,000 
34,000 
2,044,000 
24,000 

106,000 

68,000 

12,762,000 

19,000 

90,000 
144,000 
90,000 
1,904,000 
40,000 
60,000 

133,000 

1,294,000 

723,000 

53,000 

300,000 

168,000 

4,000 

500 

109,000 

11,151,000 

45,000 

105,000 
8,100 

276,000 
31,000 
3,600 

81,000 
97,000 
18,000 
20,000 
199,000 

179,000 

268,000 

60,000 

580,000 

22,000 

56,000 

7,200 

423,000 

1,500 

•809,000 

3  656,000 

< 167, 000 

8,175,000 

'12,946,000 

•4,298,000 

'650,000 

189,000 

200 

8 100 

400 
7,000 
5,100 

291,000 
5,400 
64,000 
31,000 
20,000 

99,000 

200 

600 

57,000 

141,000 

12,000 
1,000 
4,900 

61,000 
400 

6,600 

2,900 

22,000 

1,200 

8,700 
6,400 
9,600 
69,000 
2,000 
7,000 

3,600 
46,000 
35,000 
609 
27,000 

2,100 

900 

100 

2,(,0O 

451,000 

7,000 

15,000 
7,500 

13,000 
900 
200 

3,100 
2,300 
6,300 
1,400 
5,700 

15,000 

3,700 

300 

7,400 
2,300 
lOO 
(') 

67,000 

600 

223,000 

64,000 

14,000 

8,200 

2,173,000 

381,000 

98,000 

8,100 

8 

500 

0) 

10,000 
664,000 
38,000 

273,000 

90,000 

1,222,000 

405,000 

245,000 

1,407,000 

400 

Alewives 

7,000 

5,100 

Blueflsh 

2,918,000 
11,000 
6,400 
1,100 
1,800 

1,592,000 
7,500 

268,000 
700 
400 
200 
200 

69,000 
200 

22,000 

Bonlto 

4,800 
64,000 
31,000 

Butterftsh 

Carp,  German .  ,          ,  .. 

CatDsh  and  bullheads 

20,000 
39,000 

Cod 

Dogfish 

42,000 

596,000 

3,408,000 

390,000 
39,000 
34,000 

979,000 
22,000 

80,000 

68,  (KM 

2, 322,  (mo 

19,000 

90,000 
87,000 
89,000 
548,000 
28,000 
5<),000 

130,  aw 

5o,(X)0 
268,000 

62,000 
360,000 

168,000 

4,000 

400 

76,000 

4,769,0(» 

44,000 

105,000 

8,100 

271,000 

31,000 

Eels 

140,000 
1,221,000 

34,000 

11,000 
30,000 

1,300 

46,000 
111,000 

11,000 
1,000 
4,900 

26,000 
300 

Haddock 

Hake 

Kingflsh 

200 

1,064,000 

2,100 

20,000 

25,000 
2,000 

Ling 

4,600 
2,900 

Mackerel,  thimble-eyed 

Menhaden 

10,440,000 

18,000 

4,000 
1,200 

MuskaJlunge 

100 
67,000 

800 

1,356,000 

12,000 

«1,800 

100 

38,000 

600 

8,700 
3,600 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel 

9,600 

Pike  perch  (blue  pike) 

21,000 

Pike  perch  (sauger) 

1,500 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

7,000 

Pollack 

2,600 

1,238,000 

455,000 

.1,000 

100 
42,000 
16,000 
(') 

3,500 

2,600 

19,000 

600 

Seaoass 

Sea  robin 

Shad 

27,000 

2,100 
90O 

Skates 

Smelt 

Spanish  mackerel 

100 

33,000 

6,382,000 

1,200 

100 

(') 

1,300 

216,000 

300 

(') 

100 

Spot 

1  400 

RqilPtpfl^Tip,  nr  wpatfi^h 

235,000 

Striped  bass 

7,300 

15,000 
7,500 

Sturgeon 

Caviar 

Suckers 

6,300 

(f) 

13,000 
90O 

Sunflsh 

Swordfish 

3,600 

1,300 
1,600 

200 

«ioo 

Tautog 

80,000 
95,000 
18,000 
14,000 
197,000 

81,000 

268,000 

48,000 

523,000 

22,000 

6(i,000 

7,200 

296,000 

1,500 

608,000 

638,000 

49,000 

8,125,000 

3,430,000 

280,000 

220,000 

189,000 

200 

100 

3,000 
2,200 
6,300 
1,100 

Tomcod 

Trout,  brook 

Trout,  lake 

6,100 
2,100 

99,000 

300 

2,100 

57,000 

300 
200 

7,700 

(') 

100 

1,100 

Whitebait 

Whiteflsh 

7,500 

Whiting 

3,700 
200 

Another 

Crabs,  hard 

6,300 
2,300 

Crabs,  soft 

Crabs,  king 

100 

Crabs,  spider 

40,000 
600 

Lobster 

127,000 

18,000 

Snrimp 

Clams,  hard 

241,000 
18,000 
117,000 

50,000 

9,516,000 

4,013,000 

430,000 

70,000 
1,800 
9,600 

1,600 

1,694,000 

368,000 

64,000 

153,000 

53,000 

4,700 

6,600 
579,000 

Clams,  soft 

Clams,  surf 

Mussels 

Oysters,  market 

Oysters,  seed 

22,000 
35  000 

Scallops 

Squid 

8,100 

Turtles 

(1) 

Skins,  muskrat 

« 

1  Less  than  $100. 
« 101,000  bushels. 


•  66,000  bushels. 

*  21,000  bushels. 


'1,849,000  bushels. 
•  614,000  bushels. 


'  81,000  gallons. 
8  200  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  8.— NEW  YORK— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES,  BY  DISTRICTS:  1908. 


209 


AOQREOATE. 

ATLANTIC  COAST  DISTEICT. 

LAKE   E 

SPEaE3. 

Total. 

Long  Island  Sound. 

All  other  waters. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

41,697,000 

$2,860,000 

39,097,000 

$2,787,000 

6,349,000 

$585,000 

33,747,000 

$2,201,000 

2,601,000 

$73,000 

Fish 

27,128,000 
2,918,000 
6,382,000 
1,592,000 
1,238,000 
1,368,000 

1,221,000 

1,064,000 

10,440,000 

455,000 

140,000 

99,000 
26,000 
57,000 
34,000 
33,000 
59,000 

!  9, 516, 000 

•4,013,000 

•376,000 

s 430, 000 
127,000 
50,000 
57,000 

742,000 
268,000 
216,000 
59,000 
42,000 
38,000 

30,000 
25,000 
18,000 
16,000 
11,000 

7,700 
2,000 
1,800 
1,300 
1,300 
3,000 

1,594,000 
358,000 
82,000 

64,000 

18,000 

1,600 

1,100 

24,528,000 
2,918,000 
6,382,000 
1,592,000 
1,238,000 

669,000 

268,000 

216,000 

59,000 

42,000 

176.000 

4,400 

3,800 

40,000 

200 

7,000 
500 
200 

1,300 

(') 

24,351,000 
2,914,000 
6,378,000 
1,552,000 
1,238,000 

662,000 

268,000 

216,000 

68,000 

42,000 

2,601,000 

73,000 

Bluefish 

Cod       .                         

1,368,000 

38,000 

1,221,000 

30,000 

93,000 

2,800 

1,128,000 

28,000 

Lake  herring                              

1,064,000 

25,000 

10,446,666 

455,000 
140,000 

18,000 
16,000 
11,000 

10,440,000 
442,000 
133,000 

18,000 
15,000 
11,000 

Sea  bass                               

13,000 
6,600 

1,100 
600 

Eels  

Whitefish 

99,000 

7,700 

Mackerel        

20,666 

2,000 

10,000 

300 

16,000 

1,700 

57,000 

1,800 

Haddock 

34,000 
33,000 
47,000 

9,516,000 

4,013,000 

376,000 

430,000 
127,000 
50,009 
57,000 

1,300 
1,300 
2,600 

1,594,000 

358,000 

82,000 

64,000 

18,000 

1,600 

1,100 

34,000 
33,000 
43,000 

7,833,000 

1,033,000 

307,000 

4,800 
112,000 
60,000 
67,000 

1,300 
1,300 
2,400 

1,362,000 
91,000 
07,000 

1,000 

10,000 

1,600 

1,100 

Spot 

All  other 

4,400 

1,683,000 

2,979,000 

70,000 

425,000 
15,000 

200 

232,000 

207,000 

15,000 

63,000 
1,900 

12,000 

400 

Mussels 

1  Less  than  $100.  •  1,359,000  bushels. 

Table  9.— NEW  YORK- 


s  573,000  bushels.  •  47,000  bushels.  '  54,000  bushels. 

-FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908,  1898-99,  1890,  AND  1880. 


Total 

Fish 

Bluefish 

Butterfish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish  and  bullheads 
Cod 

Eels 

Flounders 

Herring 

Menhaden 

Pike  perch 

Scup,  or  porgy 

Sea  bass 

Shad 

Squeteague 

Sturgeon  and  caviar. , 
All  other 

Oysters 

Clams 

Scallops 

Lobster 

All  other 


1908 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


76,485,000 


47,504,000 

3,191,000 

1,229,000 

406,000 

247,000 

2,999,000 

736,000 
4,029,000 
2,046,000 
12,762,000 
2,001,000 

1,294,000 

723,000 

360,000 

11,151,000 

113,000 

3,617,000 

1  17,244,000 

» 1,632,000 

»  650, 000 

423,000 

9,031,000 


84,594,000 


1,566,000 
291,000 
64,000 
31,000 
20,000 
99,000 

57,000 
141,000 
51,000 
22,000 
68,000 

45,000 
35,000 
27,000 

451,000 
23,000 

140,000 

2,553,000 

292,000 

98,000 

57,000 

27,000 


1898-99 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


218,468,000 


Value. 


$3,787,000 


1830 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


200,559,000 


101,736,000 

5,740,000 

424,000 


805,000 
1,939,000 

1,937,000 

1,576,000 

2,406,000 

128,736,000 

826,000 

369,000 
751,000 
3,777,000 
2,990,000 
2,291,000 
7,110,000 

•16,456,000 

'5,782,000 

"596,000 

150,000 

15,838,000 


Value. 


$4,859,000 


1,576,000 
250,000 
13,000 


24,1X10 
79,000 

110,000 
45,000 
49,000 

341,000 
50,000 

7,300 
41,000 
190,000 
117,000 
84,000 
175,000 

2,458,000 

711,000 

71,000 

15,000 

28,000 


1880 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


333,523,000 


318,257,000 
3,000,000 


3,680,000 


288,931,000 


2,734,000 

4,000,000 

144,000 

15,868,000 

•7,303,000 
•6,203,000 


135,000 
1,625,000 


Value. 


$4,381,000 


2,212,000 
68,000 


67,000 


1,115,000 


137,000 

120,000 

8,600 

697, 000 

1,577,000 
518,000 


5,100 
69,000 


'2,463,000  bushels. 
»2,Wi2,000  bushels. 
•2,351,000  bushels. 

76786°- 


•1,043,000  bushels. 
'204,000  bushels. 
•290,000  bushels. 


'  723.000  bushels. 
'  775,000  bushels. 
•81,000  galloDS. 


i«  82,000  gallons. 
"  74,000  galloDS. 


-11- 


14 


210 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  10.— NEW  YORK— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES,  BY  DISTRICTS:  1908. 


ATLANTIC  COAST  DISTRICT. 

GREAT  LAKES  DISTRICT. 

SPECIES. 

AOQREOATE. 

Total. 

Long  Island 
Sound. 

All  other  waters. 

Total. 

Lalce  Erie.           Lalce  Ontario. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantitv 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity  vulno 
(pounds).  ^'""*- 

Total 

34,788,000 

Jl, 734,000 

32,377,000 

$1,604,000 

8,412,000 

$523,000 

23.965,000 

$1,080,000 

2,410,000 

$130,000 

1,588,000 

$57,000 

823,000  $74,000 

Fish 

20,376,000 

4,769,000 
3,408,000 
1,222,000 
596,000 
1,407,000 

405,000 
633,000 
360,000 
979,000 

113,000 

273,000 

824,000 

235,000 
111,000 
64,000 
46,000 
39,000 

31,000 
30,000 
27,000 
26,000 

23,000 

22.000 

17,960,000 

4,769,000 
3,408,000 
1,222,000 
651,000 
1,407,000 

385,000 

694,000 

235,000 
111,000 
64,000 
43,000 
39,000 

30,000 

6,679,000 

1,723,000 

1,812,000 

965,000 

70,000 

15,000 

237,000 

79,000 

05,000 

49.000 

6,000 

600 

11,287,000 

3.045.000 

1,596,000 

258,000 

481. OOO 

1,392,000 

385,000 

457,000 

155,000 
45,000 
16,000 
37,000 
39,000 

30.000 

2,410,000 

130,000 

1,588,000 

67,000 

823,000 

74,000 

Squeteaeue,    or 

Biitterfish 

45.000 

2,600 

1,800 

100 

44,000 

2,500 

Cod 

Carp,  German 

Pike  percti 

Shad 

20,000 
633,000 

500 
30,000 

16,000 
480, uOC 

300 
18,000 

4,700 
153,000 

200 

12.000 

360,000 

27,000 

2,500 

300 

358,000 

27,000 

Herring,  lake 

Sturgeon  and  cav- 

979,000 
86,000 

26,000 
19,000 

944,000  1  24.000 

36,000 
42,000 

1.700 

27,000 

273,000 

109,000 
2u8,000 
108.000 
390,000 

800 
90,000 

4,400 
22,000 

6,700 
19,000 

6,100 
11,000 

100 

8,700 

6,600 
81,000 

600 
6,500 

21,000 

193,000 

109,000 
231,000 
108,000 
390,000 

800 
90,000 

3,700 
16,000 

0,700 
16,000 

6,100 
11,000 

100 

8,600 

44,000 

9,000 

9,600 

Catfish  and  bull- 

245,000  ;        20,000 
268,000  1        19-000 

136,000 

13,000 

14,000 

800 

122,000 

12,000 

37,000 

3,100 

251,000 
390,000 

89,000 
90,000 
81,000 
44,000 
654,000 

18,000 
197,000 
38,000 
34,000 
91,000 

80,000 

2,322,000 

268,000 

87,000 
130,000 

80,000 

58,000 

55,000 

95,000 

■  168,000 

76,000 

19,000 

14,000 

268,000 

12,000 
11,000 

9,600 
8,700 
7,500 
7,300 
7,100 

6,300 
5,500 
5,100 
4,900 
4,800 

4,600 
4,000 
3,700 
3,600 
3,500 

3,000 

2,900 
2,600 
2,200 
2,100 

1,400 
1,200 
1,100 
5,600 

601,000 
579,000 

22,000 
210,000 

40,000 

35,000 

8,600 

8,100 

6,600 

700 

143,000 

6,900 

15,000 

400 

128,000 

5,400 

Haddock 

Pike  and  pickerel.. 

Perch,  white . 

Whitefish 

88,000 

9,500 

800 

100 

87,000 

9,400 

100 

(') 

81,000 

7,500 

24,000 

2,100 

56,000 

5,400 

Striped  bass 

44,000 
654,000 

7,300 
7,100 

14,000 
103,000 

2,300 
1,700 

30,000 
551,000 

5,000 
5,300 

18,000 

6,300 

18,000 

6,300 

197,000 
(') 

34,000 
91,000 

80,000 

2,322,000 

268,000 

26,000 
130,000 

80,000 

58,000 
55,000 
95,000 
168,000 

76,000 

5,500 
('5 

4,900 
4,800 

4,600 
4,000 
3,700 
1,400 
3,500 

3,000 

2,900 
2,  (KM 
2,200 
2,100 

1,400 

197,666 
(') 

11,000 
76,000 

35,000 

1,100,000 

135,000 

26,000 
103,000 

19,000 

28,000 
21,000 
77,000 
105,000 

15,000 

5,500 

(■) 
1,700 
3,900 

2,200 
1,400 
1,600 
1,400 
2,800 

700 

1,200 

1,100 

1,300 

600 

400 

38,000 

5,100 

1,800 

100 

36,000 

6,000 

ITinpfi'jh 

23,000 
14,000 

45,000 

1,222,000 

133,000 

3,200 
900 

2,500 
2,600 
2,100 

Bonito 

Perch,  yellow 

Pollack 

62,000 

2,200 

26,000 

1,100 

35,000 

1,100 

27,000 

61,000 

30,000 
35,000 
18,000 
63,000 

60,000 

700 

2,400 

1,800 

1,500 

900 

1,500 

1,000 

Tautog 

Mackerel,  tiiimble- 

Scup,  or  porgy 

• 

Skates 

Spot 

Muskallunge 

Trout,  lake 

19,000 
14,000 
47,000 

1,200 
1,100 
1,300 

100 

(') 

19,600 

(') 
(') 
700 

19,000 
14,000 
28,000 

1,200 

1,100 

All  other 

221,000 

4,300 

601,000 
579,000 

22,000 
210,000 

40,000 

35,000 

8,600 

8,100 

6,600 

700 

119,000 

1,000 

145,000 

143,000 

1,300 

91,000 

10,000 

34,000 

100 

6,200 

102,000 

3,200 

457,000 
436,000 

2i,ono 

119,000 
29,000 

400 
S,60O 
1,900 
6,600 

600 

600 

Market 

'3,430,000 

'286,000 

'1, 256, 000 

296,000 

"220,000 
545,000 
189,000 

8,125,000 
65,000 

3,430,000 
286,000 

1,256,000 
296,000 

220,000 
545,000 
189,000 
8,125,000 
65,000 

708,000 
21,000 

501,000 
76,000 

217,000 

5,400 

141,000 

2,722,000 
265,000 
755, 000 
220,000 

2,500 

540,000 

48,000 

8,125,000 

1,600 

Seed 

Crabs 

All  other 

63,000 

100 

1 

'  Less  than  $100. 

'  Less  than  100  pounds. 


'490.000  bushels. 
4  41,000  bushels. 


•157,000  bushels. 
«  27,000  gallons. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


211 


NORTH    CAROLINA. 

Among  the  states  in  wliich  commercial  fishing  was 
pursued  in  1908,  North  Carolina  ranked  eleventh  in 
the  value  of  fishery  products.  The  chief  fishing 
grounds  of  the  state  were  Albemarle,  PamMco,  and 
Core  Sounds,  and  their  tributary  rivers.  Among  the 
important  rivers  were  the  Cape  Fear,  New,  Roanoke, 
Shallotte,  Newport,  North,  and  Neuse.  Many  smaller 
sountls  and  rivers  also  contributed  to  the  fishery  prod- 
uct of  the  state. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  a  general 
summary  of  the  statistics  of  the  North  Cai'olina  fish- 
eries in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 9,  681 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $533,  000 

Apparatus  of  capture 367,  000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 370, 000 

Value  of  products 1, 776, 000 

Comparison  with  'previous  canvasses. — In  prior  can- 
vasses of  the  fisheries  of  North  Carohna,  the  United 
States  Bureau  of  Fisheries  enumerated  among  the 
shoresmen  employees  of  the  canning  and  packing  indus- 
tries allied  to  the  fishing  indiistry.  These  are,  how- 
ever, excluded  in  the  following  tabular  statement, 
which  shows  the  general  statistics  of  the  fishing  indus- 
try for  certain  years: 


Persons 

cm- 
ployed, 
pxpliisive 
of  sliores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

TEAS. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

9,037 
11,592 
10, 120 
7,478 
4,729 

$901,000 

1,157,000 

765,000 

634,000 

388,000 

$533,000 
583,000 
354,000 
288,000 
162,000 

$367,000 
574,000 
411,000 
346,000 
225,000 

101,422,000 
67.585,000 
04,234,000 
51,799,000 
32,249,000 

$1,770,000 

1902 

1,740,000 

1897 

1,316,000 

1890 

1,028,000 

1880 

846,000 

An  increase  in  the  number  of  persons  employed  was 
shown  at  each  canvass  up  to  and  including  that  of 
1902,  and  this  was  accompanied  by  increases  in  all  the 
other  items  given  in  the  above  statement.  From  1902 
to  1908,  however,  there  was  a  decHne  in  the  number 
of  persons  employed  and  a  corresponding  decrease  in 
the  value  of  both  classes  of  equipment.  The  vessels 
engaged  in  fishing  and  transporting  show  a  decrease 
of  $79,000  in  value  since  1902.  Products,  on  the  other 
hand,  continued  to  increase  in  both  quantity  and 
value. 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes,  by 
class  of  fisheries,  the  number  of  persons  employed  in 
the  years  for  which  canvasses  have  been  made  from 
1880  to  1908: 


PEBaONS  EMPLOYED,  EXCLU.SIVE  OF 
SHORESMEN. 

TKAH. 

Total. 

In  vessel 
flsheries. 

On  trans- 
porting 
vessels. 

In  shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

1908                                  

9,637 
11,592 
10,120 
7,478 
7,180 
6,603 
6,243 
4,729 

639 
1,100 
455 
251 
233 
150 
172 

427 
433 
202 
175 
110 
138 
140 

8,571 

1902 

10,059 

1897                           

9,463 

1890 

7,052 

1889         

6,837 

1888 

6,315 

1887        

5,931 

Persons  employed. — The  distribution  of  the  persons 
employed  is  given  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Pro- 
prie- 
tors. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ploy- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total    

9,681 

14,803 

3 

4,875 

$546,000 

$1,800 

2  S544.000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transporting  vessels. . 
Shore  and  boat  fish- 

639 
427 

8,571 
44 

68 
113 

4,632 

2 

1 

579 
314 

3.938 
44 

81,000 
48,000 

410,000 
6,900 

1,800 

79,000 
48,000 

410,000 

Shoresmen  

6,900 

1  Exclusive  of  214  proprietors  not  fishing. 

•  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $34,000.  ' 

»  Less  than  $100. 

The  vessel  fisheries  gave  employment  in  1908  to  only 
a  small  percentage  of  the  total  number  of  persons  re- 
ported. The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  credited  with 
8,571  persons,  or  89  per  cent  of  the  total  number, 
while  only  1,066,  or  11  per  cent,  were  engaged  in  the 
vessel  fisheries  and  on  the  transporting  vessels.  Only 
44  shoresmen  were  reported.  By  far  the  larger  num- 
ber of  persons  reported  for  vessel  fisheries  and  trans- 
porting vessels  were  wage-earners.  For  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  of  North  Carolina  a  larger  proportion  of 
wage-earners  and  a  smaller  proportion  of  independent 
fishermen  were  reported  than  for  the  same  class  of  fish- 
eries in  other  states. 

Many  of  the  persons  employed  in  the  industry  fished 
only  a  part  of  the  year,  and  during  the  remainder  of 
the  time  engaged  in  farming  and  other  occupations. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  next  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  distribution,  by  class  of  investment, 
of  the  total  capital  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  North 
Carohna. 

The  total  investment  in  1908  in  fishing  and  trans- 
porting vessels  and  their  outfits  was  $282,000,  which 
was  greater  than  the  investment  in  boats  by  $30,000. 
The  value  of  vessels  and  api)aratus  of  capture  pertain- 
ing to  vessel  fisheries  was  only  $308,000,  or  one-half 


212 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


as  much  as  the  value  of  the  apparatus  of  capture  and 
boats  used  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  which 
amounted  to  $593,000. 


CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT 

equipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 

Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

Total 

$1,270,000 

Vessels  including  outfit 

282,000 

137,000 

69,000 

59,000 

9,500 

68,000 

54,000 

14,000 

145,000 

52,000 

35,000 

17,000 

93,000 

73,000 

20,000 

251,000 

118,000 

98,000 

33,000 

2,600 

367,000 

26,000 

341,000 

350,000 

19,000 

299 
99 
15 

2,815 

1,135 

Steam  and  motor 

356 

Vessels    . 

Outfit 

i 

Sail 

84 

779 

Vessels 

Outfit . 

Transporting   

266 
29 

1,680 

225 

Outfit 

Sail         

171 

■    1,455 

Outfit 

. 

4,984 

433 

2,272 

2,218 

61 

Steam  and  motor 

* 

Sail 

. 

Row          

Shore  and  boat  fisheries    .             

Cash . .                      

The  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  was  nearly  thirteen  times  as  great  as 
that  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  importance  of  this 
item  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  in  1902  it  represented 
28  per  cent  and  in  1908,  27  per  cent  of  the  total  invest- 
ment in  the  fisheries  of  the  state.  The  decrease  from 
1902  to  1908  in  the  value  of  the  investment  in  apparatus 
of  capture,  which  was  from  $574,000  to  $367,000,  is 
chargeable  entirely  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  for 
the  value  of  the  apparatus  of  capture  used  in  the  vessel 
fisheries  increased  more  than  $5,000. 

The  numbers  of  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus  of 
capture  employed,  all  of  which,  except  16  gill  nets,  10 
eel  pots,  41  seines,  and  12  traps,  were  used  in  shore  and 
boat  fisheries,  were  as  follows: 

Pound  netB 3, 997 

Seines 1,538 


Bow  nets. 
Cast  nets. 
Crab  nets . 
Dip  nets. . 


338 

54 

628 

40 

Fyke  nets 41G 

Gill  nets 42,225 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc  ....  64 

Pots,  eel 4,289 


Shrimp  nets 45 

Stop  nets 4 

Mink,  muskrat,  and  otter 

traps 582 

Turtle  nets 149 

Wheels  and  slides 25 


Products,  by  species. — The  fishery  products  of  the 
state,  distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
tiu-e,  are  shown  in  Table  1,  on  page  215. 

The  product  of  the  North  Carolina  fisheries  included 
more  than  40  species  of  fish,  besides  frogs,  crabs, 
shrimp,  terrapin,  turtles,  clams,  and  oysters;  the  skins 
of  mink,  muskrats,  and  otter;  whalebone  and  whale 
oil ;  and  the  hides  and  oil  of  porpoises. 

Of  the  important  products,  shad,  oysters,  mullet, 
and  clams  showed  large  decreases  in  1908  in  both  quan- 
tity and  value.  Almost  the  entire  increase  in  the  total 
quantity  of  products  is  accounted  for  by  the  unprece- 


dented size  of  the  menliaden  catch.  Although  this 
amounted  to  40,000,000  pounds  liiore  than  in  1902,  it 
caused  an  increase  in  value  of  only  $40,000.  While 
the  catches  of  some  of  the  other  species  increased  in 
both  quantity  and  value,  the  increase  in  the  total  value 
for  the  state  was  due  chiefly  to  the  general  increase  in 
the  price  per  pound  received  for  fishery  products. 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  the  quantity  and 
value  reported  for  some  of  the  important  products  are 
given  for  1902  and  1908: 


Shad 

Oysters 

Squeteague 

Mullet 

Alewives... 

Clams 

Menhaden. 


FISHERY  PRODUCTS. 


1908 


Quantity  i    y  , 
(pounds).       ^*'"*- 


3,942,000 
6,690,000 
4,635,000 
5,070,000 

10,928,000 
726,000 

57,412,000 


$373,000 
236,000 
20t),  000 
175,000 
140.000 
82.000 
70,000 


1902 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


6,,tU7,000 
7,160,000 
3,781,000 
6,705,000 

11,173.000 
1,175,000 

18,862,000 


Value. 


$385,000 
268,000 
156,000 
188,000 
116,000 
87,000 
31,000 


The  total  weight  of  the  1908  product  was  101 ,422,000 
pounds  and  its  total  value  $1,776,000.  The  40  species 
offish  reported  contributed  94,133,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $1,406,000,  or  94  per  cent  of  the  weight  and  79  per 
cent  of  the  value.  Shad  constituted  the  most  valuable 
product  and  oysters  ranked  second,  the  value  of  the 
former  being  $373,000,  or  21  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
reported,  and  that  of  the  latter  $236,000,  or  13  per  cent 
of  the  total  value.  Three  species  of  fish — squeteague, 
mullet,  and.  alewives — for  which  values  of  $206,000, 
$175,000,  and  $140,000,  respectively,  were  reported, 
ranked  next  in  importance.  For  no  other  product  was 
a  value  as  great  as  $100,000  reported;  but  clams  worth 
$82,000  were  taken,  and  crabs  and  16  species  of  fish 
each  added  from  $10,000  to  $70,000  to  the  total  value 
of  the  product. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  products  of  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  of  the  vessel  fisheries  are 
given  in  detail,  by  species  and  apparatus  of  capture,  in 
Tables  2  and  3,  on  pages  216  and  217,  respectively. 

The  next  tabular  statement  distributes,  by  species, 
arranged  in  the  order  of  value,  the  total  value  of 
products  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  each  class  of 
fisheries. 

The  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  aggregated 
45,556,000  pounds,  or  44  per  cent  of  the  total  weight, 
and  was  valued  at  $1,613,000,  or  91  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  state.  Shad 
contributed  22  per  cent  of  the  total  value  reported 
for  this  class  of  fisheries,  representing  a  larger  per- 
centage of  the  value  than  any  other  species.  Sque- 
teague, mullet,  and  oysters  each  furnished  more  than 
10  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 

The  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  was  55,865,000 
pounds,  or  55  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  for  the 
state;  but  its  value  was  only  $163,000,  or  9  per  cent 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


213 


of  the  total  value.  The  values  of  the  menhaden  and 
oyster  products  each  fonned  about  40  per  cent  of  the 
value  reported  for  vessel  fisheries.  Next  to  these  the 
most  valuable  product  was  shad,  which  had  a  value  of 
$13,000,  or  8  per  cent  of  the  value  credited  to  this 
class  of  fisheries. 


Total 

Fish 

Shad 

Squeteague 

Mullet 

Alewives 

Menhaden 

Bluefish 

Perch,  white 

Black  bass 

Striped  bass 

Spanish  raaclierel ... 

Croaker 

Butterfish 

Kingflsli,  or  whiting 

Hickory  shad 

Flounders 

Spot 

Perch,  yellow 

PiROsh 

Sheepshead 

Catflsh 

Ail  oilier 

Oysters 

Claras 

Craixs 

All  other 


VALUE  oy  PEODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


»1, 776, 000 


,406,000 
373,000 
206,000 
175,000 
140,000 
70,000 
45,000 
44,000 
40,000 
36,000 
34,000 
31,000 
29,000 
28,000 
20,000 
16,000 
16,000 
14,000 
14,000 
12,000 
11,000 
62,000 
236,000 
82,000 
34,000 
18,000 


Vessel 

fisheries. 


$163,000 


99,000 

13,000 

5,200 

1,400 

4,700 

66,000 

700 

(') 
500 
1,300 
600 


1,000 
500 
300 
300 

(') 

(') 
700 

(') 
2,400 

64,000 


(') 


Shore  and 

l)oat 
fisheries. 


$1,613,000 


1,307,000 

360,000 

201,000 

173,000 

136, 000 

4,200 

45,000 

44,000 

40,000 

36,000 

33,000 

31,000 

29,000 

27,000 

20,000 

16,000 

15,000 

14,000 

14,000 

11,000 

11,000 

49,000 

172,000 

82,000 

34,000 

18,000 


>  Less  than  $100. 

The  value  of  fish  proper  constituted  81  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  the  catch  in  the  case  of  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  and  61  per  cent  in  the  case  of  vessel 
fisheries.  Two-thirds  of  the  value  of  the  fish  taken  in 
the  vessel  fisheries  represented  the  value  of  menhaden. 

Products,  hy  ajjparatus  of  ca-pture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  distribution  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture,  arranged  in  the  order  of  the  value  of 
their  catch,  of  the  total  value  of  products,  for  the 
state  as  a  whole  and  for  each  class  of  fisheries : 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$1,776,000 

$163,000 

$1  613  000 

691,000 

391,000 

376,000 

307,000 

29,000 

21,000 

16,000 

46,000 

96,000 

495,000 
391,000 
375,000 
243  000 

Oill  nets 

700 
64,000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc                  .  . . 

Lines                                             ... 

2,600 

18,000 
16,000 
46,000 

Another 

(') 

'  Less  than  $100. 

The  products  caught  by  seines  contributed  a  larger 
part  of  the  weight  and  value  of  the  total  fishery  prod- 
ucts than  those  taken  by  any  other  form  of  apparatus. 
Their  value  constituted  33  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  all  products  and  their  weight  70  per  cent  of  the 
total  quantity.  The  chief  species  caught  by  seines 
were  mullet,  squeteague,  menhaden,  black  bass,  ale- 
wives,  and  shad.     SUghtly  more  than  five-sixths  of 


the  value  of  the  products  taken  by  this  form  of  appa- 
ratus was  secured  from  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

On  the  basis  of  the  value  of  the  product  taken, 
pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs  formed  the  next  most 
important  class  of  fishing  apparatus.  Since  1880, 
when  only  117  pound  nets  were  used,  this  kind  of 
apparatus  has  increased  in  importance,  until  in  1908, 
3,997  pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs  were  in  use. 
The  value  of  the  product  obtained  by  pound  nets,  in- 
cluding the  comparatively  small  quantities  taken  by 
trap  nets  and  weirs,  amounted  to  $391,000,  or  22  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery  products.  These  forms 
of  ■  apparatus  were  used  only  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  and  principally  in  the  capture  of  shad  and 
alewives. 

Gill  nets  ranked  second  in  importance  with  respect 
to  the  value  of  the  product  taken  in  1902  and  third 
in  1908.  They  were  of  little  consequence  in  the 
vessel  fisheries,  but  were  extensively  used  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  for  catching  shad,  squeteague, 
mullet,  bluefish,  and  numerous  less  important  species. 
Dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes  yielded  a  product  valued  at 
$307,000,  which  consisted  of  olams,  oysters,  and  crabs. 
Crab  nets,  lines,  and  bow  nets  followed  in  rank  accord- 
ing to  the  value  of  product  taken.  The  use  of  crab 
nets  and  bow  nets  was  confined  to  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  to  which  88  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch 
by  lines  is  also  credited.  With,  fyke  nets  various  spe- 
cies of  fish,  having  a  total  value  of  $8,600,  were  taken 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Shad. — Shad  has  always  been  the  chief  product  of 
the  fisheries  of  North  Carolina,  and  in  1908  the  total 
catch  was  3,942,000  pounds,  valued  at  $373,000.  This 
catch,  however,  contributed  only  4  per  cent  of  the 
total  weight  and  21  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state.  The  quantity  was  40 
per  cent  less  than  in  1902,  but  the  -value  was  only  3 
per  cent  less  than  in  that  year.  In  1902  the  state 
ranked  first  in  the  shad  catch,  reporting  6,567,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $385,000;  but  in  1908  it  was  out- 
ranked by  Virginia,  both  in  the  quantity  and  the  value 
of  shad  taken.  Of  the  total  value  of  the  catch  of  shad, 
96  per  cent  was  that  of  product  obtained  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  principally  by  means  of  pound  nets 
and  gill  nets,  though  to  some  extent  by  seines  and 
other  apparatus.  The  quantity  caught  in  the  vessel 
fisheries,  representing  4  per  cent  of  the  value,  was 
obtained  entirely  by  the  use  of  seines  and  gill  nets. 
This  fish  was  taken  chiefly  in  Cape  Fear  River  and  its 
tributaries,  in  Pamlico,  Croatan,  Roanoke,  and  Albe- 
marle Sounds,  and  in  the  rivers  tributary  to  these 
sounds. 

Oysters. — The  oyster  yield  ranked  second  in  value, 
the  total  product  in  1908  being  813,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $236,000.  This  represents  a  decrease,  as 
compared  with  1902,  when  1,023,000  bushels  were 
obtained,  having  a  value  of  $268,000.  The  average 
price  per  bushel,  however,  increased  from  26  cents  in 
1902  to  30  cents  in  1908.     Very  little  progress  has  been 


214 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


made  in  the  cultivation  of  oysters  in  North  Carolina. 
The  yield  from  private  areas  in  1908  was  only  11,000 
bushels,  valued  at  $7,600.  The  followLag  tabular 
statement  presents  statistics  in  respect  to  the  yield  of 
oysters  in  1908: 


KIND  AND  SOUBCE. 


Total 

Market 

From  public  areas. 
Vtojtl  private  areas 

Seed 

From  public  areas. 
From  private  areas 


OYSTER  PRODUCT: 

1908. 


Quantity 
(bushels). 


813,000 


754,000 


744,000 
9,600 


59,000 


57.000 
2.000 


$236,000 


227,000 


220,000 
7,300 


8,500 
300 


The  total  yield  of  seed  oysters  from  public  and  pri- 
vate areas  in  1908  was  only  59,000  bushels,  valued  at 
$8,800,  of  which  value  $5,000  represents  the  value  of 
oysters  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  total  yield 
of  oysters  from  public  areas  was  801,000  bushels, 
valued  at  $228,000,  or  99  per  cent  of  the  quantity 
and  97  per  cent  of  the  value,  of  the  total  yield  for  the 
state.  Oyster  fishing  wjis  pursued  mainly  as  a  shore 
and  boat  fishery,  only  27  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  oyster  product  being  obtained  in  the  vessel 
fisheries. 

Squeteague. — The  catch  of  squeteague,  which  ranked 
third  in  importance  in  1908  with  respect  to  value, 
increased  from  3,781,000  pounds,  valued  at  $156,000, 
in  1902,  to  4,635,000  pounds,  valued  at  $206,000,  in 
1908.  New  York  and  New  Jersey  were  the  only  states 
which  had  a  larger  and  more  valuable  catch  of  this  fish 
than  North  Carolina;  Florida  had  a  product  slightly 
larger,  but  of  smaller  value.  Ninety-six  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  reported  for  North  Carolina  was  that  of 
product  taken  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries;  and  in 
this  class  of  fisheries  seines,  pound  nets,  and  gill  nets 
accounted  for  all  except  4  per  cent  of  the  value.  Prac- 
tically all  of  the  value  of  the  catch  (over  99  per  cent) 
was  that  of  product  sold  fresh. 

Mullet. — Mullet  ranked  fourth  in  value  among  the 
fishery  products  of  North  Carolina.  The  catch  of  this 
state,  together  with  the  much  larger  catch  of  Florida, 
represented  90  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  mullet 
caught  in  the  United  States.  The  quantity  taken  in 
North  Carolina  in  1908,  though  smaller  than  that  taken 
in  1902,  was  greater  than  the  catch  in  any  previous 
year.  In  1908  the  muUet  product  amounted  to 
5,070,000  pounds,  valued  at  $175,000,  and  in  1902  to 
6,705,000  pounds,  valued  at  $188,000.  Less  than  1 
per  cent  of  the  mullet  catch  of  1908  was  reported  by 
the  vessel  fisheries.  Seines  and  gin  nets  were  used  in 
the  capture  of  nearly  the  entire  product.     The  fisher- 


men sold  54  per  cent  of  the  fish  fresh  and  the  remainder 
salted.  A  little  of  the  roe  (800  pounds)  was  salted  and 
sold  separately. 

Alewives. — The  total  alewife  product  in  1908  was 
10,928,000  pounds,  valued  at  $140,000,  and  was  the 
smallest  quantity  recorded  since  1880,  when  15,520,000 
pounds  were  taken.  In  1902  the  catch  was  11,173,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $116,000,  and  in  1897  it  was 
15,790,000  pounds,  valued  at  $127,000.  Since  1897 
this  fish  appears  to  have  been  less  abundant.  Like 
shad,  it  was  caught  mostly  in  the  fresh  waters;  and 
97  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch  was  contributed 
by  the  product  of  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Of  the 
total  value,  73  per  cent  represented  the  value  of  the 
catch  with  pound  nets  and  the  remainder  the  value 
of  that  with  seines,  gill  nets,  fyke  nets,  and  miscella- 
neous apparatus.  Nearly  two-thirds  of  the  alewife 
product  was  sold  fresh;  and  with  the  exception  of 
a  small  quantity  (1,200  pounds)  which  was  smoked, 
the  balance  was  sold  salted. 

Menhaden. — Of  the  states  showing  a  menhaden 
catch,  North  Carolina  ranked  third  in  respect  to  quan- 
tity of  product  and  fourth  in  respect  to  value,  and  was 
the  most  southern  state  in  which  this  fish  was  taken  in 
any  quantity.  The  catch  of  1908 — 57,412,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $70,000 — was  larger  than  that  of  any  pre- 
vious year,  and  showed  an  increase  since  1902  of  more 
than  204  per  cent  in  quantity  and  125  per  cent  in 
value.  In  1902  the  catch  was  18,862,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $31,000,  which  was  at  that  time  the  largest 
that  had  ever  been  taken  in  the  state.  This  fish, 
though  representing  but  4  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all 
fishery  products  of  the  state,  constituted  57  per  cent 
of  the  total  quantity.  The  catch  was  obtained  almost 
wholly  in  the  vessel  fisheries,  menhaden  contributing 
41  per  cent  of  the  total  value  and  96  per  cent  of  the 
total  quantity  reported  for  this  class  of  fisheries.  Of 
the  total  value  of  the  menhaden  catch,  only  $4,200,  or 
6  per  cent,  was  reported  from  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  entire  catch  in  the  vessel  fisheries  was 
secured  by  seines,  but  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
though  seines  wei'e  the  chief  apparatus  used,  about 
one-fourth  of  the  catch  was  taken  with  gill  nets  and 
pound  nets. 

Other  products. — Large  increases  since  1902  were 
shown  in  the  quantity  and  value  of  crabs,  bluefish,  and 
Spanish  mackerel.  On  the  other  hand,  clams,  black 
bass,  striped  bass,  croakers,  and  other  minor  species 
each  showed  a  decrease  from  the  catch  taken  in  1902. 
The  quantity  of  white  perch  increased  from  941,000 
pounds  in  1902  to  993,000  pounds  in  1908,  but  the 
price  per  pound  decreased  so  that  the  total  value  was 
only  $44,000  in  1908,  as  compared  with  $63,000  in  1902. 
This  state  ranked  first  in  its  catch  of  white  perch, 
which  contributed  32  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  white 
perch  taken  in  the  United  States. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— NORTH  CAROLINA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


215 


PRODUCT  CAOGHT  BY- 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


Total 101,422,000  |$1, 776,000 


fish: 


Alewives... 
Black  bass. 
Bluefish..  . 

Bouito 

Buttorflsh.. 


Carp,  German 

Catfish 

Croaker 

Dogfish,  or  bowfln. 
Drum,  salt-water. . 


Eels 

Floimders 

Hickory  shad 

Jewflsh 

Kingflsh,  or  whiting. . 


Menhaden 

Moonfish     (angel-flsh, 

or  spadefish) 

Mullet 

Mullet  roe,  salted 

Perch,  white 


Perch,  yellow. 

Pigfish 

Pike 

Pinfish 

Pompano 


Sailor's  choice. 

Sea  bass 

Shad 

Sheepshead 

Skates 


Snapper 

Spanish  mackerel 

Spot 

Squeleague 

Strawberry  bass  and 
crappie 


Striped  bass . 

Sturgeon 

Suckers 

Sunflsh 

All  other 


Frogs 

Crabs,  soft. . 
Crabs,  hard. 

Shrunp 

Terrapin 


Turtles 

Clams,  hard 

Oysters,  market,  from  pub- 
lic areas 

Oysters,  market,  from  pri- 
vate areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 
areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 
areas 


Whalebone 

Skins,  mink 

Skins,  muskrat. 

Skins,  otter 

Porpoise  hides. . 

Porpoise  oil 

Whale  oil 


10,028,000 

511,000 

1,250,000 

11,000 

1,302,000 

228,000 
804,000 
1,177,000 
101,000 
343,000 

258,000 
403,000 
377,000 
1,200 
817,000 

57,412,000 

53,000 

6,070,000 

800 

993,000 

360,000 
470,000 

69,000 
373,000 

11,000 

39,000 

72,000 

3,942,000 

249,000 

6,000 

13,000 

457,000 

852,000 

4,635,000 

24,000 

610,000 
02,000 
63,000 

165,000 
7,200 

5,400 
277,000 
113,000 
371,000 

7,700 

23,000 
< 726,000 

'5,209,000 

•66,000 

'401,000 

<  «  14,000 

200 
siOO 
i»500 

m 

48,000 
21,000 
"7,800 


140,000 

40,000 

45,000 

200 

29,000 

7,000 

11,000 

31,000 

1,400 

7,200 

5,600 
16,000 
20,000 
100 
28,000 

70,000 

1,300 

175,000 

100 

44,000 

14,000 

14,000 

3,100 

4,  .300 

700 

1,800 

3,200 

373,000 

12,000 

100 

300 

34,000 

16,  (KM 

206,000 

1,000 

36,000 

6,400 

2,000 

5,600 

200 

900 

33,000 

1,100 

9,000 

1,800 

700 
82,000 

220,000 

7,300 

8,600 

300 

300 
500 
800 
100 
1,000 
2,200 
400 


Quantity 
(iwunds). 


71,069,000  $591,000 


Value. 


2,491,000 
455,000 
655,000 


98,000 

154,000 
1)*1,000 
626,000 
53,000 
213,000 

2,500 
256,000 
167,000 

1,200 
293,000 

56,465,000 

2,900 

3,486,000 

800 

452,000 

227,000 

315,000 

51,000 

203,000 

4,200 

34,000 

1,1(X) 

401,000 

219,000 


103,000 

584, (KM 

2,425,0(X) 

6,800 

177,000 
34,000 
39,000 

113,000 
2,900 


700 

49,000 

42,01)0 

4,300 

9,800 


48,000 
21,000 


34,000 
35,000 
20,000 


3,100 

4,600 
3,800 
14,000 
600 
4,600 

100 
10,000 
9,000 

100 
9,600 

69,000 

100 

124,000 

100 

19,000 

9,000 
8,600 
2,300 
2,300 
300 

1,700 

m 

34,000 
10,000 


8,400 

10,001) 

116,000 

300 

12,000 

3,800 

1,000 

3,700 

100 


100 

400 

1,300 

1,200 

300 


Pound  nets,  trap 
nels,  and  weirs. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


Value. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


14,040,000 


$391,000 


8,085,000 
26,000 
83,000 
9,500 

1,084,000 

20,000 

221,000 

225,000 

10,000 

62,000 

5,100 
80,000 
176,000 


15,000 

311,000 

49,000 
8,000 


365,000 

97,000 
3,000 

14,000 

128,000 

6,900 


1,569,000 
11,000 
6,000 


143,000 
34,000 
873,000 

6,500 

216,000 
21,000 
9,700 
14,000 


65,000 


(.') 


1,000 
2,200 


7,733,000 


102,000 

2,200 

2,500 

200 

24,000 

600 
4,300 
12,000 

100 
1,000 

200 
4,100 
9,600 


400 

600 

1,200 
400 


17,000 

3,300 

100 

700 

1,400 

400 


144,000 
500 
100 


8,500 

600 

32,000 

200 

15,000 

1,800 

400 

600 

m 


(') 


Gill  nets. 


5376,000 


164,000 
8,100 

601,000 
1,100 

120,000 

5,600 

28,000 

280,000 

1,100 

49,000 


31,000 
23,000 


486,000 
636,000 


1,536,000 

"ki'ibob 

21,000 
107,000 

2,400 
41,000 

1,000 

100 

2,000 

1,887,000 

17,000 


208,000 

218,000 

1,090,000 

1,400 

38,000 
6,000 
11,000 
13,000 
3,200 


200 
700 


Value. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


2,200 

600 

22,000 

« 

2,200 

200 

600 

4,700 

m 

1,200 


1,100 
1,100 


17,000 
600 


49,000 


3,400 

1,000 

3,200 

100 

700 

100 

m 

100 

186,000 

700 


17,000 

4,500 

51,000 

100 

2,700 
800 
500 
600 
100 


200 


100 
(') 


Lines. 


Value. 


(^sssSsTr'"- 


574,000  l$21,000 


7,500 
15,000 


8,400 
37,000 
45,000 

1,800 
17,000 

2,200 

2,800 

400 


19,000 


8,800 

2,300 
50,000 


5,000 
68,000 


13,000 

2,300 

16,000 

229,000 

2,600 

6,200 


200 

9,900 

300 


600 


400 
500 


300 
1,200 
900 
100 
400 

(') 

100 
(•) 


700 


(•) 


100 
2,200 


m 


200 
3,100 


100 


300 

200 

600 

7,900 

100 

600 


400 

(>) 


(») 


Fyke  nets. 


231,000 


24,000 

16,000 

1,700 


6,300 
20,000 

100 
30,000 

800 

60O 
300 
100 


4,000 


3,000 


75,000 

13,000 

100 

1,100 


6,600 


800 

200 

6,000 

7,700 

2,400 


14,000 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$8,600 


7,774,000  $389,000 


300 

1,200 

100 


200 
400 

(') 
300 

(') 

(') 

h 

(») 


100 


3,800 
600 


100 

C) 

300 
300 
200 


All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 


Value. 


166,000 


35,000 

16,000 

400 

6,300 

1,500 

247,000 
33,000 
10,000 


36,000 


4,800 

300 
300 
(•) 


78,000 
100 


200 

400 

12,000 

200 

71,000 

800 

3,200 

300 


6,400 
276,000 

2,900 
328,000 

3,200 

13,000 
•726,000 

55,209,000 
•  66,000 

I  401,000 

« 14,000 

200 
»100 
i»500 
(') 


"7,500 


1,600 


1,100 
400 

(») 
200 

(») 

6,200 

1,000 

600 


(') 


1,400 


200 


7,900 


6,700 
100 
lOO 

C) 


900 

33,000 

200 

7,700 

500 

400 
82,000 

220,000 

7,300 

8,500 

300 

300 
600 
800 
100 


400 


1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  6,907,000  pounds,  valued  at  $307,000;  crab  nets,  246,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  bow  nets,  263.000 
pounds,  valued  at  S16,0()0;  shrimp  nets,  328,000  pounds.valucd  at  $7,700;  pots,  243,000  pounds,  valued  at  55,100;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  SI.IKXI  jiounds,  valued  at  $2,800;  cast 
nets,  40,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,900:  wheels  and  slides,  123.000  pounds,  valueri  at  $1,900;  dip  nets,  14,000  pounds,  valued  at  $l,2nil;  mink,  muskrat,  and  otter  traps,  600 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  turtle  nets,  14,000  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  stop  nets,  9,400  pounds,  valued  at  $300;  and  minor  apparatus,  630,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000. 

»  Less  than  $100.  <  91,000  bushels.  •  9,5(K)  bushels.  «  2,000  bushels.  '» 1,,'iOO  skins. 

>  Less  than  100  pounds.  >  714,000  bushels.  '  67,000  bushels.  '  200  skins.  "  1,000  gaUons. 


216 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— NORTH  CAROLINA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  wehrs. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  nets. 

All  otlier  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Vaiue. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

45,556,000 

$1,613,000 

16,612,000 

$495,000 

14,040,000 

$.391,000 

7,719,000 

$375,000 

519,000 

$18,000 

231,000 

$8,600 

6,436,000 

$.325,000 

Fish: 

7,257,000 

3,204.000 

52.000 

511,000 

1,235,000 

1,400 

11,000 

1,2.30,000 

227,000 

603,000 

1,144,000 
101,000 
343,000 
257,000 
396,000 

72,000 
354,000 

17,000 

1,200 

786,000 

3,918,000 

3,146,000 

1,875,000 

800 

992,000 

360.000 
474,000 

68,000 
371,000 

11,000 

34,000 

31,000 

3,808,000 

232,000 

6,000 

8,000 

438,000 

835,000 

4,454,000 

14,000 

24,000 
502,000 
62,000 
63,000 
161,000 
7,200 

5,400 
113,000 
277,000 
371,000 

7,700 

23,000 

'726,000 

'4,088,000 

•  66,000 

'185,000 

'14,000 

200 
•100 
>»500 
(») 

48,000 

"21,000 

U7,500 

83,000 

53,000 

1,300 

40,000 

44,000 

100 

200 
28,000 
6,900 
11,000 

31,000 
1,400 
7,200 
S,.500 

16,000 

1,300 
19,000 

1,000 

lOO 

27,000 

4.200 

93,000 

80,000 

100 

44,000 

14,000 
14,000 
3,200 
4,300 
700 

1,700 

1,200 

360,000 

11,000 

100 

200 

33,000 

15.000 

200,000 

600 

1,000 
36,000 
6,400 
2,000 
5,600 
200 

900 

1,100 

33,000 

9,000 

1,800 

70O 

82,000 

161,000 

7,300 

3,500 

300 

300 
500 
800 
100 
1,000 
2,200 
400 

1,347,000 

678,000 

2,900 

455,000 

535,000 

1,400 

19,000 

11,000 

100 

35,000 

19,000 

100 

6,587,000 

2,498.000 
49,000 
26,000 
83,000 

61,000 

41.000 
1,200 
2,200 
2,500 

146,000 
18,000 

1,900 
300 

24,000 

300 

155,000 
10,000 

1.400 

Alewives,    salted    and 

200 

7,700 
600,000 

600 
22,000 

7.500 
15,000 

400 
500 

15,000 
1,700 

1,200 
100 

Bliipfish   salted 

9,500 

1,032,000 

20,000 

221,000 

225,000 

10,000 

62,000 

5.100 

80,000 

52,000 
176,000 

200 

23,000 

600 

4,300 

12,000 
100 

1,000 
200 

4,100 

1,000 
9,500 

1,000 

100,000 

5,500 

28,000 

280,000 

1,100 

49,000 

^900 
200 
600 

4.700 

(«) 

1,200 

98,000 
153,000 
181,000 

594,000 

.')3,000 

213,000 

2,500 

250,000 

3,100 
4,600 
3,800 

13,000 
600 

4,600 
100 

9,800 

Carp,  German 

8,400 
37,000 

46,000 
1.800 

17,000 
2,200 
2,800 

300 
1,200 

900 
100 
400 
(') 
100 

6,300 
20,000 

100 
30,000 
800 
600 
300 

200 
400 

(') 

300 
(') 
(") 

m 

35,000 
16.000 

400 

5,  .300 

1,600 

246.000 

33,000 

1,100 

Catfish 

400 

(•) 

Dogfish ,  or  bo wfin 

Drum,  salt-water 

Eels 

200 

(») 
5,200 

30,000 

20,000 
23,000 

1,100 

300 
1,100 

1,000 

Hickory  shad,  fresh 

Hickory  shad,  salted.... 

Jewfish 

144,000 

17,000 

1,200 

263,000 

2.971,000 

1,876,000 

1,568,000 

800 

451,000 

227,000 

313,000 

51,000 

201,000 

4,200 

34,000 

1,100 

269,000 

202,000 

7,600 

1,000 

100 

8,600 

3,100 
56,000 
67,000 
100 
19,000 

9,600 
8,500 
2,300 
2,200 
300 

1,700 

m 

20,000 
9,600 

400 

i') 

100 

CT 

10,000 

000 

Kmgfish,  or  whiting 

15,000 

311,000 
8,000 

400 

500 
400 

485,000 

636,000 

1,242,000 

288,000 

17,000 

600 
37,000 
12,000 

19,000 

700 

4,000 

100 

500 

m 

Mtillpf    frpsh 

3,000 

100 

17.000 
19.000 

600 

Mullet  <?alted 

900 

Mullet  roe,  salted 

Perch,  white 

365,000 

97.000 
3,000 

14,000 

128,000 

5,900 

17,000 

3,300 
100 
700 

1,400 
400 

87,000 

20.000 
107,000 

2.200 
41.000 

1,000 

3,400 

900 
3,200 
100 
700 
100 

8,800 

2,300 
50,000 

400 

lOO 
2,200 

75,000 

13.000 

100 

1,100 

3,800 
500 

m 

4,800 

300 
300 
(•) 

200 

Perch,  yellow... 

r> 

Ptpfisfl ,  .    , 

(') 

Pile 

Pin  fish 

400 

W 

2,000 

1,885.000 

17,000 

100 

180,000 

700 

28,000 

1,100 

Shad 

1,569,000 
11.000 
6,000 

144,000 
100 

6.500 

600 

78,000 
100 

7,900 

1,400 

100 

(») 

Skates 

8,000 

ilOO 

1(1, 000 

227.000 

200 

100 

500 

7,800 

Spanish  mackerel 

Spot 

85,000 

567,000 

2,255,000 

6,400 

6,800 
169,000 
34,000 
.39,000 
113,000 
2,900 

7,100 

9.900 

109,000 

300 

300 
12,000 
3,800 
1,000 
3,700 

100 

143,000 

34,000 

873,000 

8,500 

600 

32,000 

208.000 

218,000 

1,083,000 

7,800 

1,400 
38,000 

5,700 
11,000 
12.000 

3,200 

17,000 

4,500 

51,000 

400 

100 
2,700 
800 
500 
600 
100 

800 

200 

6,000 

100 
(») 
300 

200 

400 

11,000 

200 

200 

71,000 

800 

3,200 

300 

(») 
(') 

Squeteague,  fresh 

Squeteague,  salted 

Strawberry   bass    and 

500 

5,500 

216,000 

21,000 

9,700 

14,000 

800 

200 

15,000 

1,800 

400 

600 

m 

2.600 
6,200 

100 
600 

7,700 
2,400 

300 
200 

(•) 

5,700 

100 

200 

9,900 

300 

400 

100 

Sunfish 

14,000 

200 

(') 

5,400 

2.900 

276,000 

328.000 

3,200 

13,000 

«  726,000 

'4,088,000 
»  66,000 

'185,000 

•  14,000 

200 
'  100 
■»500 

m 

900 

49,000 

70O 

42,000 

4,300 
9,800 

400 

100 

1,300 

1,200 
300 

55,000 

400 

6,000 

200 

500 

m 

200 

Orab<!  soft 

33,000 

7,700 

« 

m 

200 
700 

100 

m 

500 

400 

82,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  put> 

• 

' 

161,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  pri- 

7,300 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 

3,500 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 

300 

300 

500 

800 

Skins  otter 

100 

48,000 
i>  21,000 

1,000 
2,200 



WhalA  oil 

"7.600 

400 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  4,570,000  pounds,  valued  at  $243,000:  crab  nets,  24.''),000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000:  bow  nets,  203,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $16,000;  shrimp  nets,  328,000  pounds,  vahied  al,  S7,700:  pots,  342,(X)0  pounds,  valued  at  $5,0(KI;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  S1,(XX)  pounds,  viilnpil  at  $2,800; 
east  nets,  46,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,900;  ;nink,  muskrat,  and  otter  traps,  600  pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  dip  nets,  14,0(K)  pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  turtle  nets,  14,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $400;  stop  nets,  9,400  pounds,  valued  at  $.300;  and  minor  apparatus,  ,5,30,000  pounds,  valued  at  $I4,(K)0. 

»  Less  than  $100.  '  584,000  bushels.  '  26,000  bushels.  •  200  .skins.  »  2,800  gaons. 

J  Less  than  100  pounds.  •  9,500  bushels.  •  2,000  bushels.  "1,300  skins.  "  1,000  gaUons. 

•  91,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Tablb  3.— north  CAROLINA— products  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


217 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

GUI  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

55,865,000 

tl63,000 

54,467,000 

t96,000 

14,000 

1700 

1,394,000 

167,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

467,000 

20,000 

33,000 

6,900 

0,000 

30,000 

53,494,000 

39,000 

10,000 

5,100 

41,000 

134,000 

17,000 

5,000 

19,000 

17,000 

166,000 

8,200 

10,000 

'1,121,000 
< 216,000 

4,700 
700 
500 
300 
500 

1.000 
66,000 

1,000 
400 
200 

2,000 

13,000 

700 

100 

1,300 

300 

5,200 

500 

300 

59,000 
5,000 

467,000 
19,000 
32,000 
6,400 
6,000 

30,000 

53,494,000 

38.000 

4,000 

4,700 
600 
500 
300 
500 

1,000 

66,000 

1,000 

200 

Blueflsh 

1,000 

300 

'500 

?«1 
(') 

300 

m 

Croaker 

Flounders 

Hickory  .shad 

Kingfish,  or  whiting 

400 

(") 

Menhaden 

Mullet,  fresh 

1,000 

6,000 

100 

^''200 
(>) 

Mullet,  salted 

Sailor's  choice 

5,000 
41,000 

200 

Sea  bass 

2,000 

Shad 

132,000 
17,000 

13,000 
700 

1,900 
200 

200 

Sheepshead 

Snapper 

5,000 
1,400 

100 
100 

18,000 

17,000 

164,000 

8.000 

5.600 

1,200 

300 

5,100 

600 

100 

Spot 

Sqiieteague 

2,300 

100 

Striped  bass 

200 
2,400 

100 

All  other 

2,000 

'1,121,000 
•216,000 

100 

59,000 
5,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 

Oysters,  seed ,  from  public  areas 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,337,000  pounds,  valued  at  $04,000;  and  lines,  56,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,500. 
»  Less  than  $100.  '  160,000  bushels.  <  31,000  bushels. 


OHIO. 

The  fisheries  of  Ohio  may  be  grouped  in  two  ciivi- 
sions — those  of  Lake  Erie  and  those  of  the  Ohio  River 
and  its  tributaries.  The  Ohio  River  fisheries  are  of 
very  small  proportions,  the  value  of  the  products 
from  this  district  forming  only  2  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  fishery  product  of  the  state. 

Of  the  species  taken  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  in 
1908,  that  for  which  the  greatest  value  was  reported 
was  lake  herring,  while  German  carp,  blue  pike,  and 
other  varieties  of  pike  perch  followed  closely  in 
importance. 

The  general  statistics  for  the  Ohio  fisheries  for  1908 
are  summarized  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 

Number  of  persons  employed 2, 054 

Capital : 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $356, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 423, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 343, 000 

Value  of  products 840, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — Statistics  of 
the  fisheries  of  Ohio  as  a  whole  are  not  available  for 
former  years,  but  figures  for  the  Lake  Erie  fisheries 
of  the  state  have  been  reported  by  the  Bureau  of 
Fisheries  for  certain  years,  and  since  the  Lake  Erie 
district  contributes  such  a  large  proportion  of  the 
fishery  product  of  the  state,  these  figures  give  a  fairly 
accurate  idea  of  the  fluctuations  which  have  taken 
place. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  tabular  statement  given 
below,  tliis  district  shows  a  marked  recovery  from  a 
retrograde  movement  which  culminated  in  1903.     The 


waters  of  Lake  Erie  are  so  shallow  that  it  would  be 
possible  to  catch  all  the  fish  in  them,  and  such  a  con- 
dition was  imminent  in  1903.  Warnings  of  the  pos- 
sible extinction  of  the  fish  in  this  lake  were  given  in 
1890  by  the  Commissioner  of  Fish  and  Fisheries,  who 
called  attention  to  an  ominous  decrease  in  the  product 
since  1885. 

The  increase  in  fishery  products  which  has  taken 
place  during  recent  years  has  not,  however,  extended 
to  the  fisheries  of  the  Ohio  River  district,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  following  tabular  statement,  which  gives 
statistics  of  the  industry  in  both  districts  for  1908  in 
comparison  with  certain  earlier  years: 


DISTRICT  AND 
YEAE. 


I/ake  Erie  district: 
1908  .. 

1,865 

1903 

874 

1899... 

1,686 
1,925 

153 
182 

1890 

Ohio  River  district: 

1908 

1899 

1894 

309 

Persons 

em- 
ployed 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 


VALTTE  or  EQUIPMENT. 


Total. 


$775,000 
391,000 
779,000 
985,000 

3,400 
6,900 
14,000 


Vessels 

and 
boats,  in- 
cluding 

outfit. 


$355,000 
185,000 
361,000 
387,000 

1,000 
2,800 
3,300 


Appa- 
ratus of 
capture. 


$421,000 
206,000 
417.000 
598,000 

2,400 
3,900 
10,000 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


27,216,000 
10.749,000 
36,624,000 
44,932,000 

1,700,000 

273.000 

1,239,000 


Value. 


$824,000 
317,000 
677.000 
019,000 

16,000 
19.000 
59,000 


The  large  increase  in  the  weight  of  product  in  the 
Ohio  River  district  is  due  entirely  to  the  weight  of 
mussel  shells  reported  in  1908.  Except  for  these 
products  both  the  weight  and  the  value  of  the  Ohio 
River  product  would  have  been  less  than  half  as  much 
in  1908  as  in  1899,  when  no  mussel-shell  products 
were  reported.     The  falling  off  in  the  product  of  the 


218 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Oliio  River  district  after  1894  was  due  in  a  large  meas- 
ure to  laws  restricting  fisliermen  to  the  use  of  hoolcs 
and  lines  in  interior  waters. 

Persons  employed. — Over  92  per  cent  of  the  persons 
engaged  in  fisheries  in  Ohio  were  employed  in  the 
Lake  Erie  district.     Of  the  36  shoresmen  reported, 


25  were  engaged  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  11  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Including  shoresmen,  there- 
fore, the  total  number  of  persons  connected  with  the 
vessel  fisheries  was  287  and  the  total  number  con- 
nected with  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  1,739. 

The  distribution  of  persons  employed  was  as  follows: 


PERSONS  employed:  190S. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fisher- 
men. 

Salaried 
employees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total     .                    .           

2,054 

1830 

14 

1,210 

$380,000 

$11,000!     '$369,000 

Lake  Erie  district      

1,901 

733 

14 

1,154 

378,000 

11,000  i         367,000 

262 

28 

1,575 

>36 

153 

26 

8 

228 
28 

862 
36 

S6 

132,000 
15,000 

212,000 
18,000 

2,100 

6,100           156  nnn 

15,000 

207,000 

18,000 

2,100 

707 

6 

5,200 

Shoresmen ,    

Ohio  River  district  (shore  and  boat  fisheries).          .             

97 

1  Exclusive  of  22  proprietors  not  fishing. 

»  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $9,300. 

s  Of  these,  25  were  employed  in  vessel  fisheries  and  11  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 


Equipment  and  other  cajntal. — The  following  tabular 
statement  shows  the  distribution  of  the  capital  invested 
in  the  fisheries  of  the  state : 


CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 


Total. 


Vessels,  including  outfit 

Fishing 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Transporting 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Boats 

Steam  and  motor 

SaU 

Row 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries . . 
Shore  and  accessorv  property. 
Cash ." 


VALDE  Of  EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER 

capital;  190S. 


Total. 

Lake  Erie 
district. 

Ohio  River 
district. 

$1,122,000 

$1,118,000 

$4,100 

215,000 

169.000 

147,000 

22.000 

46,000 

39,000 

6,300 

141,000 

101,000 

2,400 

16,000 

21,000 

423,000 

89,000 

334,000 

263,000 

80,000 

215. 000 

169,000 

147,000 

22,000 

46,000 

39,000 

6,300 

140,000 

101,000 

2,400 

1.5.000 

21,000 

421,000 

89.000 

331.000 

262.000 

80.000 

1,000 

1,000 

2.400 

2.'466 

700 

Over  99  per  cent  of  the  total  investment  pertained 
to  the  Lake  Erie  district. 

Of  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory  property, 
$62,000  was  reported  for  vessel  fisheries  and  $201,000 
for  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  entire  amount  re- 
turned under  this  head,  with  the  exception  of  $700, 
represented  investment  in  the  Lake  Erie  fisheries. 

The  vessels  reported  were  exclusively  steam  craft, 
and  of  the  boats  only  28,  valued  at  $2,400,  were  sail- 
boats. With  the  exception  of  136  rowboats,  all  of  the 
boats,  as  well  as  all  of  the  vessels,  were  used  in  the 
Lake  Erie, fisheries.  The  number  and  tonnage  of  the 
vessels  and  the  number  of  the  boats  were  as  follows : 


42 
672 

12 
190 


Vessels: 

Fishing — 

Number , 

Tonnage 

Transporting — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Boats,  number 1, 083 

Steam  and  motor 279 

Sail 28 

Row 735 

Other 41 

The  numbers  of  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus 
reported  for  the  state,  of  which  all  except  10  seines 
and  262  fyke  and  hoop  nets  were  used  in  the  Lake 
Erie  district  and  all  except  18,828  gill  nets  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  were  as  follows: 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 1, 226 

Gill  nets 25,030 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 83 

Pound  and  trap  nets 2,  580 

Seines 266 

Trammel  nets 521 

Traps,  muskrat ^ 2,  645 

Turtle  nets 220 

Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  220,  gives 
detailed  statistics  as  to  the  products  of  the  fisheries  of 
Ohio,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture.  On 
the  basis  of  value,  lake  herring  was  the  most  important 
fish  taken,  with  German  carp  ranking  second.  If  the 
different  varieties  of  pike  and  pickerel  and  pike  perch 
be  considered  together  as  one  item,  tiiis  class  of  fish 
takes  the  lead  among  the  products,  with  a  total  weight 
of  9.743.000  pounds  and  a  value  of  $359,000.     The 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


219 


value  of  the  above-named  species — lake  herring,  carp, 
pike,  pike  perch,  and  pickerel — forms  76  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  the  catch,  while  the  remainder  of 
the  catch,  considered  in  respect  to  both  weight  and 
value,  is  fairly  well  distributed  among  the  other 
species  reported. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — Table  2,  on  page  220, 
gives  detailed  statistics  regarding  the  fishery  products 
of  Lake  Erie  district,  while  Table  3,  on  page  221,  gives 
similar  statistics  for  the  Ohio  Iliver  district.  Among 
the  Ohio  River  products  were  three  which  were  not  re- 
ported for  the  Lake  Erie  fisheries,  namely,  bufi'alo  fish, 
paddlefish,  and  the  products  of  the  mussel  fisheries. 
The  mussel  products  included  mussel  shells,  pearls,  and 
slugs,  and  were  valued  at  $7,000,  or  somewhat  less 
than  half  of  the  total  value  of  the  Oliio  River  product. 

Products,  iy  class  of  fisheries. — The  products  of  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  amounted  to  20,511,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $548,000,  and  those  of  the  vessel 
fisheries  to  8,405,000  pounds,  valued  at  $291,000. 
All  of  the  fisheries  of  the  Ohio  River  district  were  of 
the  shore  and  boat  class,  while  for  Lake  Erie  both 
classes  of  fisheries  were  reported.  In  the  vessel  fish- 
eries of  the  latter  district  the  following  products  were 
taken: 


Total 

Lake  herrinj; 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

Perc'ti ,  yeliow 

Pikepercii  (blue  pike) 

Pike  peroli  (sauger) 

Wliitefisii 

Pike  and  pickerel 

Another' 


PRODUCTS  or   VESSEL 
FISHERIES  OF  LAKE 

ERIE  dbteict:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


8,405,000 


227,000 

998,000 

883,000 

915.000 

208.000 

81,000 

23,000 

(i8,000 


Value. 


$291,000 


1  Includes  products  as  follows:  Suckers,  35,000  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  German 
carp,  9,800  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  drum  or  sheepshead  10,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$200;  ling  or  eelpout,  white  bass,  and  trout,  7,000  pounds,  valued  at  $100. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — Gill  nets  were 
not  used  in  the  Ohio  River  fisheries,  but  in  the  vessel 
fisheries  of  Lake  Erie  they  were  the  only  form  of  appa- 
ratus of  capture  employed.  Pound  and  trap  nets, 
though  used  only  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of 
Lake  Erie,  took  a  greater  number  of  species  and  a 
heavier  catch  than  any  other  kind  of  apparatus.  No 
single  species  of  the  19  which  were  taken  by  them 
sufficiently  predominated  in  weight  to  form  the  bulk 
of  the  catch;  but  the  different  varieties  of  pike, 
pickerel,  and  pike  perch  taken  by  pound  and  trap  nets 
aggregated  5,763,000  pounds,  valued  at  $202,000,  and 
formed  over  one-half  of  the  weight  and  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  value  of  the  entire  catch  by  this  form  of 
apparatus. 

Seines,  which  were  reported  for  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  only,  were  used  in  the  capture  of  13  species. 
The  quantity  of  products  thus  taken  in  the  Ohio 


River  district  was  small,  amounting  to  only  20,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,600,  wliile  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  Lake  Erie  products  so  caught  aggregated 
5,761,000  pounds,  valued  at  $103,000.  Of  these  Lake 
Erie  products,  5,708,000  pounds  represented  German 
carp  and  contributed  99  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
the  seine  catch  reported  for  tliis  district. 

Since  mussel  shells  were  the  principal  product  of 
the  Ohio  River  fisheries,  the  crowfoot  dredges  used 
for  taking  them  were  the  leading  apparatus  of  capture 
in  that  district. 

Principal  species. — Carp  was  the  only  one  of  the 
leading  species  for  which  a  considerable  increase  in 
catch  was  shown  in  1908,  as  compared  with  earher 
years.  The  follo%ving  tabular  statement  indicates  the 
relation  of  the  carp  catch  to  the  total  fishery  products 
of  the  Lake  Erie  district  of  Ohio  for  certain  years: 


OERMAN-CARP  PRODHCT  OP  LAKE  ERIE 
DISTRICT. 

TEAR. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

1908 

7,140,000 
3,058,000 
3,417,000 

26 
28 

9 

$127,000 
51,000 
47,000 

15 

1903                                 

16 

1899 

7 

The  lake-herring  catch,  though  larger  than  in  1903, 
retains  only  a  fraction  of  its  earher  importance,  as  is 
shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement,  and  the 
decrease  in  this  product  accounts,  in  a  large  measure, 
for  the  decrease  in  the  fishery  product  of  Ohio  from 
1890  to  1903: 


LAKE-HEERING  PRODUCT  OF  LAKE   ERIE 
DISTRICT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

1908                      -. 

4.792,000 

1,. 531, 000 

19,346,000 

27,889,000 

18 
14 
53 
62 

$147,000 

68,000 

253,000 

282,000 

18 

1903 

21 

1899                       

37 

1890 

46 

The  catch  of  blue  pike  in  1908  shows  a  pronounced 
increase  in  both  quantity  and  value  over  those  of  the 
preceding  two  years  for  wliich  statistics  were  com- 
piled, as  is  indicated  by  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment: 


BLUE-PIKE  PRODUCT  OF  LAKE  ERIE  DISTRICT. 

YE.\R. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
of  total. 

Amount. 

Percent 
of  total. 

1908                                

4,004,000 
1,733,000 
2,213,000 
3,995,000 

15 

16 
6 
9 

$125,000 
68,000 
64,000 
66,000 

15 

1903 

21 

1899                               

9 

1890 

11 

220 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— OHIO— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

QiU  nets. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Fylce  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.'   • 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity    valim 
(pounds).    ^'"™- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds'). 

Value. 

Total 

28,917,000 

$840,000 

9,400,000 

$336,000 

9,783,000 

$308,000 

5,781,000  $105,000 

1,714,000 

$51,000 

118,000 

$7,700 

2,121,000 

$32,000 

Fish: 

Buffalo  fish 

9,000 

7,158,000 

505,000 

1,227,000 

4,792,000 

100,000 

1,600 

1,441,000 

1,118,000 

4,004,000 

2,  ,■558, 000 

2,263,000 

8,600 

300 

1,387,000 

172,000 

732,000 

5,000 

1,597,000 

4,000 

18,000 

'100 

5  14,000 

800 
129,000 
25,000 
13,000 
147,000 

1,300 
100 

54,000 
70,000 

125,000 

71,000 

93,000 

700 

300 

20,000 

8,200 

60,000 

100 

*7,000 
600 
900 
400 

14,000 

800 

5,713,000 

14,000 

18,000 

100 

102,000 

800 

600 

8.100 
384,000 
130.000 
190,000 

700 
7,100 
6,200 
2,100 

100 

2,. 300 

87,000 

8,700 

5,500 
800 

57,000 

7,200 

17,000 

4,637,000 

7,700 

1,300 

300 

200 

140,000 

100 

525,000 

261,000 
989.000 
155,000 

84,000 

8,700 
12,000 
9,100 
7,300 

1,100 

476,000 
5.400 
5,300 

9,100 
300 
100 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

Lake  herring 

Ling,  or  eelpout 

8,800 

100 

Paddlefish            .             .  . 

1,600 

ioo 

922,000 
52,000 

1,026,000 

293,000 

1,998,000 

38,000 
3,800 

34,000 

460,000 
786,000 

2.902000 

14,000 
49,000 

88,000 

51,000 

14,000 

500 

300 

15,000 

6,000 

33,000 

57,000 
266,900 

77,000 
227,  OCX) 
15,000 
(0 

1,800 
16,000 

2,600 
6,200 
1,000 

m 

1,900 
7,400 

ioo 

600 

Pike  and  pickerel      

6,400 

Zoo 

lOO 
3,300 

400 

''loo 

Pike  perch  (blue  pike) . 

Pike  perch  (sauger) 

(>) 

o 

13,000  ;1. 820.000 

9,800 
100 
200 

(') 

200 

700 

(2) 

0) 

(2) 

(') 

78,000 

249,000 

5,100 

300 

1,022.000 

128,000 

391,000 

1,000 

Stureeon 

(") 

(») 

Caviar. 

Suckers 

45,000 
600 
337,000 
C) 

600 
(») 
27,000 

20,000 
1,100 

400 
100 

298,000 

43,000 

4,100 

4,900 

4,200 

2,000 

300 

1,900 

(') 

White  bass 

Wliiteflsh 

All  otlier 

Mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs. . 

1,597,000 

4,000 

18,000 

'100 

"14,000 

•7,000 
600 

Turtles                  

500 

m 

900 

400 

Skins,  muslcrat 

14,000 

1 

1 

1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  9,200  pounds,  valued  at  $9,700;  trammel  nets,  489,000  pounds,  valued  at  59,400;  crowfoot  dredges, 
1,597,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,000;  traps,  4,.5O0  pounds,  valued  at  $4,500;  turtle  nets,  19,000  pounds,  valued  at  £1,000;  and  minor  apparatus,  3,400  pounds,  valued  at  $000. 
*  Less  than  $100.  »  liess  than  100  pounds.  *  Includes  pearls  and  slugs  valued  at  $400.  '•>  150  skins.  «  41,000  skins. 

Table  2.— OHIO— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  ERIE  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Gill  nets. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  appa* 
ratus.i 

Quantity     „^ 
(pounds).     ^*'"*- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity    ^  , 
(pounds).    ^'""^• 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

27,216,000     $824,000 

9,400,000 

$336,000 

9,783,000  $308,000 

5,761,000 

$103,000 

1,665,000 

$47,000 

84,000 

$4,500 

524,000 

$25,000 

Fish: 

Carp,  German 

1 
7,140,000  (    127.000 

57,000 

7,200 

17,000 

4,625,000 

12,000 

7,700 

922,000 

52,000 

1,026,000 

293,000 

1,998,000 

1,300 

300 

200 

139,000 

400 

100 
38,000 
3,800 
34,000 
13,000 
78,000 

525,000 
261,000 
989.000 
155,000 

8,700 
12,000 
9,100 
7,300 

5,708,000 
11,000 
13,000 

102,000 
50O 
100 

373,000 
118,000 
183,000 

6,400 
5,000 
1,500 

300 
64,000 

3^^^^ 

476,000 
5,400 
5,300 

9,100 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

467.000 

1,207,000 

4,780,000 

12,000 

100,000 
1,441,000 
1,118,000 
4,004,000 
2,358,000 
2,260,000 

5,300 

300 

1,377,000 

172,000 

732,000 

5,900 

4,000 

18,000 

MOO 

5  14,000 

21,000 

11,000 

147,000 

400 

1,300 
54,000 
70,000 
125,000 
71,000 
93,000 

500 
300 

19,000 
8,200 

60,000 
100 

600 

900 

400 

14,000 

300 
100 

Lalce  herring,  salted 

84,000 
460,000 
786,000 
2,902.000 
1,826,000 
249,000 

5,100 

300 

1,022,000 

128,000 

391,000 

1,000 

1,100 

14,000 
49,000 
88,000 
51,000 
14,000 

500 
300 

15,000 
6,100 

33,000 

m 

8,800 
57,000 

266,000 
77,000 

227,000 
12,000 

m 

100 

1,800 

16,000 

2,600 

6,200 

700 

(») 

Perch,  yellow 

1,900 
7,400 

100 
600 

6,400 

400 

^'ioo 

Pllce  perch  (blue  pilce) 

Piice  perch  (sauger) 

(») 

(') 

9,800 

600 

Pilteperch(waU-eyedpike). 
Sturgeon 

200 
(') 

^'1 

(>) 

(•) 

Suckers .....; 

45,000 

600 

337,000 

600 

m 

27,000 

18,000 
1,000 

300 
100 

291,000 

43,000 

4,100 

4,900 

3,800 
2,000 
300 
(') 

1,900 

(■») 

White  bass 

Whitefish 

All  other 

4,nofl 

18.000 

1  100 

'14,000 

600 

Turtles 

500 

(») 

900 

14,0% 

Sldns,  muslcrat 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  9,200  pounds,  valued  at  $9,700;  trammel  nets,  489,000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,400;  traps,  4,500  pounds, 
valued  at  $4,500:  turtle  nets,  19,000  jMunds,  valued  at  $1,000:  and  minor  apparatus,  3,400  pounds,  valued  at  $600. 

*  I.ess  than  $100.  a  Less  than  ioo  pounds.  <  150  skins.  '  41,000  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3 OHIO— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  OHIO  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


221 


TOTAL. 

PBODtlCT  CADOHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Crowfoot  dredges. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds.) 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,700,000 

$16,000 

20,000 

tl,600 

49,000 

$4,000 

36,000 

$3,200 

1,697,000 

$7,000 

Fish: 

9,000 
18,000 
38,000 
20,000 

1,000 

2,700 
3,300 
10,000 

1,597,000 

800 
1,200 
3,700 
1,800 

100 

300 
200 
700 

27,000 

800 
6,000 
2,500 
4,800 
1,600 

100 
3,300 
2,100 

100 
300 
200 
500 
100 

"200 
200 

8,100 
11,000 
12,000 

6,400 

700 

700 

1,200 

600 

100 
2,000 
23,000 
8,700 

(■) 

200 
2,200 

800 

2,400 

200 

100 

(') 

7,900 

500 

200 

(0 

1,597,000 

'7,000 

!                    1 

1  Less  than  $100. 


OKLAHOMA. 


The  commercial  fisheries  of  Oklahoma,  all  of  which 
were  of  the  shore  and  boat  class,  were  confined  to  the 
Arkansas  River.  The  statistics  for  1908  are  given  in 
the  following  summary: 

Number  of  fishermen 3 

Capital $50 

Boats — 

Number 3 

Value $35 

Apparatus  of  capture $10 

Shore  and  acce.ssory  property $5 

Products: 

Total  quantity  (pounds) 6, 700 

Total  value $300 

Drum,  fresh-water — 

Pounds 4,  500 

Value $200 

Buffalo  fish— 

Pounds 1,200 

Value' $50 

Catfish — 

Pounds 1 ,  000 

Value $60 

OREGON. 

The  fishing  grounds  of  Oregon  may  be  grouped  in 
two  districts,  comprising,  respectively,  the  Columbia 
River  and  its  tributaries,  and  the  Pacific  Ocean  to- 
gether with  the  rivers  emptying  into  it  other  than  the 
Columbia.  Most  of  the  coast  rivers  are  short,  and 
their  descent  is  so  rapid  that  fishing  is  confined  to 
within  a  few  miles  of  the  ocean.  The  Rogue  and 
Umpqua  Rivers,  however,  furnish  abundant  fishing 
for  the  sportsman,  but  little  commercial  fishing  is 
done  on  either  river  east  of  the  Coast  Range.  Trout 
are  found  in  all  the  mountain  streams,  while  salmon 
ascend  the  rivers  in  small  numbers  as  far  east  as  the 
Cascade  Range.  The  fishing  industry  of  the  state 
shows  a  healthy  growth,  and  the  product  is  being 
rapidly  extended  to  include  other  species  than  salmon, 


"  Includes  pearls  and  slugs  valued  at  $400. 

which  was  for  jrears  the  only  species  taken  to  any 
extent.     The  general  statistics  for  1908  are  as  follows: 

Number  of  persons  employed 4, 772 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $508, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 795, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 65, 000 

Value  of  products 1, 356, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  number 
of  persons  employed  in  1908  was  4,772,  as  compared 
with  3,609  reported  for  1904  by  the  Bureau  of  Fish- 
eries, exclusive  of  1,690  employed  on  shore  in  canner- 
ies, etc.  The  returns  of  the  Bureau  of  the  Census 
exclude  employees  in  canneries  and  include  but  three 
shoresmen.  During  the  period  between  the  two  can- 
vasses, vessels  and  boats  increased  in  value  from 
$369,000  to  $508,000,  or  38  per  cent;  apparatus  of 
capture,  from  $645,000  to  $795,000,  or  23  per  cent; 
and  products,  from  $1,18-5,000  to  $1,356,000.  or  14 
per  cent. 

The  following  tabidar  statement  gives  a  comparison 
of  the  nvmiber  of  persons  employed,  the  capital  in- 
vested in  vessels,  boats,  and  apparatus  of  capture,  and 
the  value  of  products  in  1908,  with  the  figures  for 
certain  earUer  years  for  which  statistics  are  available : 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALtnE  OF  EOriMJENT. 

PEODCCTS. 

YEAK. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and  boats, 

including 

outflt. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908           .     ... 

4,769 
3,609 
3,800 
4,322 
2,822 
3,098 

$1,303,000 
1,015,000 
762,000 
841,000 
809,000 
724,000 

$508,000 

8795.000 

28,217,000 
27,935,000 
22,818,000 
38.142,000 
28,521,000 
25,892,000 

$1,356,000 

1904 

31)9,000  i  645,000 
275,000     487,000 
207,000  1  574,000 
205,000  1  544.000 
287,000     438.000 

1,185,000 

1899               

856,000 

1895 

1,282,000 

1892 

872,000 

1888 

1,034,000 

Persons  employed. — The  distribution  of  the  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  Oregon  in  1908,  according 
to  the  character  of  their  connection  with  the  industry, 
is  shown  in  the  following  table  for  the  state  as  a  whole 
and  for  the  two  main  fishei-v  districts; 


222 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 


Total 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

Columbia  River  district 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Pacific  coast  district 

Transporting  vessels 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shoresmen 

»  Exclusive  of  31  proprietors  not  fishing. 

Of  the  total  number  of  persons  employed  in  the 
fisheries  of  the  state,  79  per  cent  were  credited  to  the 
Columbia  River  district  and  21  per  cent  to  the  Pacific 
coast  district.  Wage-earners  constituted  nearly  two- 
tliirds  of  the  total  number  employed,  and  the  amount 
disbursed  in  wages  was  equal  to  more  than  one-third 
of  the  total  value  of  products.  The  wage-earners 
engaged  in  shore  and  boat  fishing  formed  96  per  cent 
of  all  wage-earners,  and  received  95  per  cent  of  the 
total  wages  paid. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  distribution  of 
the  value  of  equipment  and  of  the  amount  of  other 
capital  employed  in  the  Oregon  fisheries  in  1908  is 
given  below. 


PERSONS  empi-oyed:  1908. 


Number. 


Total. 


99 

4,670 

3 


3,778 


81 
3,697 


18 
973 


Proprietors 
and  inde- 
pendent 

fishermen. 


'2,224 


7 
2,217 


1,722 


C 
1,716 


1 

501 


Salaried 
employees. 


Wage- 
earners. 


2,546 


92 

2,451 

3 


2,054 


75 
1,979 

492 


17 

472 
3 


Salaries  and  wages. 


Total. 


S478, 000 


26,000 

451,000 

200 


417,000 


22,000 
395,000 


4,300 

66,000 

200 


Salaries. 


J800 


800 


800 


>J477,000 


26,  IXX) 

450,000 

20O 


22,000 
394,000 


61,000 


4,300 

56,000 

200 


CL.iSS  or  INVESTMENT. 


Total 

Transporting  vessels  (steam  and  motor),  in- 
eluding  outfit 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Boats 

Steam  and  motor 

Bail 

Row 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 


value  of  eqotpment  and  othee 
capital:  1908. 


Total. 


SI, 368, 000 


140,000 
125,000 

16,000 
367,000 
112,000 
233,000 

18,000 

5,400 

795,000 

65.000 


Columbia 

River 
district. 


11,208,000 


114,000 
101,000 

13,000 
316,000 

89,000 

215,000 

6,900 

5,100 

718,000 

59,000 


Pacific 

coast 

district. 


«160,000 


26,000 
24,000 

2,700 
51,000 
23,000 
17,000 
11,000 
300 
77,000 

5,300 


No  vessels  were  engaged  in  fishing  in  the  state  during 
the  year,  all  vessels  reported  being  used  exclusively 
for  transporting  fish  and  fish  products.  Vessels  thus 
engaged  numbered  44,  with  a  total  net  tonnage  of  565. 
Seven  of  these,  having  a  tonnage  of  78,  were  engaged 
in  the  Pacific  coast  fisheries,  while  the  37  vessels 
reported  for  the  Columbia  River  district  in  1908  were 
employed  on  the  Columbia  and  Willamette  Rivers. 
In  1904  the  number  of  transporting  vessels  reported 
was  35,  valued  at  $116,000,  and  the  value  of  their 
outfit  was  $14,000.     The  number  of  boats  reported 


» Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $12,000. 

was  2,312,  which  comprised  216  steam  and  motor 
boats,  1,528  sailboats,  523  rowboats,  and  45  scows. 
Of  these  several  kinds  of  boats,  the  Columbia  River 
district  reported  198,  1,355,  191,  and  31,  respectively. 
The  investment  in  boats  of  all  kinds  shows  an  increase 
of  54  per  cent  since  1904. 

The  proportion  of  the  capital  invested  in  apparatus 
of  capture  is  large,  on  account  of  the  expensive  seines 
and  nets  used  in  the  salmon  fisheries  and  the  great 
expense  of  constructing  and  locating  the  wheels  used 
on  the  Columbia  River. 

The  nets,  traps,  seines,  and  wheels  reported  were 
distributed  as  follows: 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:    1908.' 

saw. 

Total. 

Columbia 

River 

district. 

Paclflo 

coast 

district. 

Fyke  nets 

35 
3,981 
2,143 

17 
100 

31 

35 
2,931 
1,700 
17 
58 
31 

0  ill  nets 

1,050 

Hoop  nets  and  traps , 

443 

Seines.          

42 

Wheels 

1  All  reported  by  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Gill  nets  are  used  principally  in  the  salmon  fisheries. 
The  number  reported  in  1908  represents  an  increase  in 
the  four  years  between  the  two  canvasses  of  1,350,  or 
51  per  cent,  as  compared  with  the  number  in  1904 — 
2,631.  Thirty  wheels  were  reported  in  1904  and  31  in 
1908.  They  were  all  located  on  the  Columbia  River 
and  their  catch  in  1908  included  salmon  and  sturgeon. 
The  seines  reported  in  1908  numbered  100,  as  com- 
pared OTth  50  in  1904.  Of  those  reported  in  1908,  58 
were  in  use  in  the  Columbia  River  district  and  42  in 
other  waters.  Those  employed  in  the  Columbia  River 
fisheries  were  large  seines  of  an  average  value  of 
nearly  $700,  while  the  seines  used  in  other  waters 
averaged  but  $100  each  in  value.  No  pound  nets 
were  reported  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  in   1904. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


223 


Fyke  nets  liave  increased  in  number,  wliile  lioop  nets 
and  trai)s  have  decreased. 

Products,  hy  species. — Table  1 ,  on  page  224,  shows  for 
1908  the  quantity  and  vahie  of  the  fishery  product's  of 
the  state,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

The  total  product  increased  from  27,533,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $1,185,000,  in  1904,  to  28,217,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $1,356,000,  in  1908,  an  increase  of  3  per  cent 
in  quantity  and  14  per  cent  in  value.  In  1904  there 
were  15  species  of  products,  as  compared  with  21  in 
1908.  Those  not  reported  in  earlier  canvasses  were 
cultus  cod,  flounders,  sculpin,  squeteague,  or  sea  trout, 
black  snapper,  sole,  and  tomcod,  soriie  of  which  were 
taken  in  considerable  quantities.  The  value  of  the 
salmon  catch  represented  96  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  products  in  1908.  The  bulk  of  the  Oregon  salmon 
product  was  of  the  cliinook  variety,  wliich  contributed 
68  per  cent  of  the  total  weight  and  81  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  salmon  reported  for  the  state. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — Tables  2  and  3,  on 
pages  224  and  225,  give  the  fishery  products,  by  species 
and  apparatus  of  capture,  for  the  Columbia  River  and 
Pacific  coast  districts,  respectively,  and  the  following 
tabular  statement  shows,  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and 
for  the  two  districts,  the  distribution  by  principal 
species  of  the  total  value  of  products  in  1908: 


Total 

Fish 

Salmon 

Chinook 

Silver 

Steelhead 

Bliicback 

Dog,  or  chum 

Catfish 

Shad 

Sturgeon 

Another 

Crawfish 

Crabs 

Oysters 

Clams 


VALUE  OF  PRODDCTS:    1908. 


Total. 


51,356,000 


1,329, 

1,301, 

1,056, 

109, 

109, 

20, 

7, 

9. 

8, 

6, 

4, 

14, 

6, 

4, 

2, 


Columbia  ]      Pacific 

River  coast 

district.        district. 


$1,186,000 

1,172,000 

1,148,000 

1,011,000 

21,000 

95,000 

20,000 

1,800 

9,000 

7,400 

6,800 

600 

14,000 


$170,000 

157,000 
152,000 
45,000 
88,000 
14,000 


6,200 


600 


4.000 


C,900 
4,200 
2,000 


The  following  tabular  statement  shows,  for  1908,  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state  accorcUng  to  fishing 
grounds : 


nSHTNG  GROUND. 


Total 

Columbia  River 

Nehalem,  Tillamook,  and  Nestugga  Rivers 

Rogue  River 

Coquille  River 

Clackamas  and  Willamette  Rivers 

Coos  Bay 

Siuslaw  "River 

Yaquina  Day  and  River 

Alseya  Bay  and  River 

Umpqua  River 

Nekanakum  River 

Another 


FISHERY  products: 

1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


28,217.000 


$1,350,000 


911,000 
405,000 
990,000 
293,000 
404,000 
628,000 
845,000 
280,000 
225,000 
140,000 
60,000 
46,000 


Value. 


1,162,000 
40,000 
37,000 
26,000 
25,000 
20,000 
17,000 
12,000 
8,900 
3,200 
900 
2,900 


Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — Of  the  total  quan- 
tity, 22,849,000  pounds  were  taken  with  gill  nets;  and  of 
the  gill-net  catch,  22,246,000  pounds,  or  97  per  cent, 
represented  salmon,  valued  at  $1,061,000,  or  82  per 
cent  reported  for  the  total  salmon  catch  of  the  state. 

Seines  ranked  second  both  in  respect  to  the  quantity 
and  the  value  of  the  product  taken.  In  addition  to  a 
large  amount  of  salmon,  considerable  quantities  of 
flounders,  herring,  and  perch  of  the  viviparous  variety 
were  included  in  the  seine  catch.  The  catch  by  wheels 
is  confined  to  salmon  and  a  few  sturgeon. 

In  the  following  tabular  statement  the  value  of  the 
total  fishery  product  is  distributed  according  to  appa- 
ratus of  capture,  for  the  state  and  the  two  districts : 


' 

VALUE 

OF  products:  1908. 

KIf;D  OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Columbia 

River 

district. 

Pacific 

coast 

district. 

Total 

$1,356,000 

$1,186,000 

$170,000 

Gill  nets 

1,070,000 
152,000 
72,000 
29.000 
18,000 
7,200 
2,200 

931,000 

142,000 

72,000 

23,000 

18,000 

144,000 

Wheels 

6,000 

Pound  nets 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

7,200 
2,200 

Lines 

Salmon. — As  already  indicated,  salmon  constituted 
the  chief  fishery  product,  and  represented  95  per  cent  of 
the  total  quantity  and  96  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
products  reported.  The  increase  between  1904  and 
1908  in  the  quantity  reported  was  162,000  pounds,  or 
less  than  1  per  cent,  and  in  the  value  reported  $150,000, 
or  13  per  cent.  There  was  a  decrease  in  the  quantity 
caught  of  the  chiuook  and  dog  or  chum  species,  although 
the  value  of  each  increased.  Both  the  quantity  and 
value  of  blueback,  silver,  and  steelheadsalmon  increased . 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  quantity 
and  value  of  salmon  taken  from  the  different  fishing 
grounds  in  1908: 


FISHING  GHOtniD. 


Total 26,876,000 


SALMON  product: 

1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


$1,301,000 


Columbia  River ]  20, 

Nehalem,  Tillampok,  and  Nestugga  Rivers i    2, 

Rogue  River [ 

Coquille  River 1 

Siuslaw  River 

Coos  Bay 

Clackainas  and  Willamette  Rivers 

Alseya  Bay  and  River 

Yaquina  IJay  and  River ! 

Umpqiia  R  iver , 

Nekanakum  River 


095,000 
405,000 
990,000 
277,000 
845,000 
537,000 
263,000 
150,000 
124,000 
140,000 
50,000 


1,135,000 
40,000 
37,000 
26,000 
17,000 
17,000 
13,000 
6,500 
4,200 
3,200 
900 


The  salmon  catch  of  the  Columbia  River  alone  con- 
stituted 75  per  cent  of  the  total  salmon  catch  of  the 
state  and  represented  87  per  cent  of  its  total  value. 
The  quantity  taken  from  the  Coquille  River  was  greater 
than  that  taken  from  Rogue  River,  but  the  value  of  the 
latter  catch  was  considerably  greater.  Almost  the 
entire  salmon  product  of  the  different  rivers,  excepting 


224 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


the  Columbia,  Clackamas,  and  Willamette,  was  used 
in  the  canneries,  one  or  more  of  which  are  located  on 
each  river,  except  the  Alseya  and  the  Nekanakum.  The 
catch  of  the  last-named  rivers  was  delivered  to  can- 
neries located  near  by. 

Other  leading  species. — The  second  in  importance  of 
the  fishery  products  was  crawfish,  but  the  value  of  the 
catch  formed  only  about  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value 


of  products.  In  both  1908  and  1904  Oregon  ranked 
fii'st  among  the  states  in  respect  to  the  value  of  the 
crawfish  product,  Wisconsin  holding  second  rank  in 
both  the  years  named.  Catfish,  shad,  hard  crabs,  and 
sturgeon  were  next  in  importance  in  the  order  named, 
and  each  showed  a  substantial  gain  since  the  canvass 
of  1904. 


Table  1.— OREGON— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SFEaES. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Wheels. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

28,217,000 

Jl, 356, 000 

22,849,000 

11,076,000 

2,987,000 

$152,000 

1,355,000 

$72,000 

1,025,000 

$57,000 

Fish: 

30,000 
201,000 
20,000 
23,000 
16,000 
15,000 
26,000 

403,000 
18,176,000 

905,000 
4,923,000 
2,469,000 

8,000 
431,000 

5,000 
30,000 

2,000 
114,000 

3,300 

200,000 
178,000 

8  700 
•30,000 
6  2,300 
"5,000 
'1,800 

300 
9,000 
800 
500 
700 
300 
600 

20,000 

1,050,000 

7,000 

109,000 

109,000 

300 
8,000 
200 
800 
100 
6,800 
100 

6,900 
14,000 

100 

2,000 
800 

3,200 
200 

30,000 

300 

Gatnsh 

201,000 
20,000 

9,000 

800 

5,000 

ioo 

18,000 

400 



16,000 

700 

9,200 
1,700 

7,700 

15,471,000 

895,000 

4,591,000 

1,280,000 

200 

400 

901,000 

6,900 

102,000 

60,000 

6,666 
24,000 

94,000 
1,711,000 

10,000 
274,000 
847,000 

100 
500 

4,100 

100,000 

100 

5,600 

42,000 



Salmon  blueback 

294,000 
819,000 

16,000 
44,000 

7,500 
175,000 

300 

10,000 

Salmon,  silver 

11,000 
218,000 

300 
10,000 

47,000 
124,000 

8,000 

900 

Salmon  steelhead 

6,700 

300 

430,000 

8,000 

1,300 

100 

5,666 

200 

28,000 

700 

2,100 

100 

2,000 

100 

100,000 

5,000 

600 

m 

13,000 

1,200 

3,300 

200,000 
178,000 

S700 

«  30, 000 

6  2,300 

»  5,000 

'  1,800 

100 

6,900 

Crawfish 

14,000 

100 

2,000 

800 

■ 

3,200 

200 

■  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Pots  and  traps,  561,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  pound  nets,  353,000  pounds,  valued  at  $18,000;  dredges,  tongs,  etc., 
88,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,200;  and  lines,  64,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,200. 

2  Less  than  $100.  ^  loo  bushels.  *  3,700  bushels.  '-  .300  bushels.  «  700  bushels.  '  300  bushels. 

Table  2.— OREGON— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  COLUMBIA  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Wheels. 

-Ml  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

21,315,000 

$1,186,000 

16,643,000 

$931,000 

2,586,000 

$142,000 

1,355,000 

$72,000 

732,000 

$4i,ooa 

Fish: 

30,000 
201,000 
403,000 
16,955,000 
147,000 

839,000 

2,013,000 

418,000 

17,000 

114,000 

178,000 

300 

9,000 

20,000 

1,011,000 

1,800 

21,000 
95,000 

7,400 
.300 

0,800 

14,000 

30,000 

300 

Catfish 

201,000 

7,500 

175,000 

9,000 

7,700 

14,3,50,000 

147,000 

716,000 
858,000 
417,000 
17,000 
100,000 

400 

860,000 

1,800 

18,000 
38,000 

7,400 
300 

5,600 

94,000 
1,611,000 

4,100 
96,000 

294,000 
819,000 

16,000 
44,000 

300 

Salmon,  Chinook 

10,000 

66,000 

813,000 

1,300 

600 

600 

1,300 

40,000 

100 

m 

11.000 
218,000 

300 
10,000 

47,000 
124,000 

900 

Salmon,  steclh^d 

6,700 

Shad 

'    13,666 

1,266 

178,000 

14,000 

I  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Pots  and  traps,  379,000  pounds,  valued  at  $23,000;  and  pound  nets,  353,000  pounds,  valued  at  $18,000.        2  Less  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— OREGON— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  PACIFIC  COAST  DISTRICT:  1908. 


225 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus." 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

6,902,000 

$170,000 

6,207,000 

$144,000 

401,000 

$10,000 

294,000 

$15,000 

Fish: 

20,000 
23,000 
16,000 
15,000 
26,000 

1,221,000 
758,000 

4,084,000 

456,000 

8,000 

2,000 
13,000 

5,000 
13,000 

3,300 

200,000 
"700 
<  30,000 
5  2,  .300 
«  5,000 
'1,800 

800 
500 
700 
300 
600 

45,000 

5,200 

88,000 

14,000 

300 

100 
600 
200 
500 
100 

6,900 
100 

2,000 
800 

3,200 
200 

20,000 

800 

5,000 

100 

18,000 

400 

16,000 

7U0 

Herring     .   .                                                    

9,200 
1,700 

1,121,000 
748,000 

3,876,000 
422,000 

200 

m 

41,000 

5,2(» 

84,000 

13,000 

6,000 
24,000 

100,000 
10,000 

208,000 
34,000 

100 
600 

3,900 

100 

4,200 

1,100 

Salmon  dog  or  chum                               

8,000 
2,000 

300 

100 

Shad 

13,000 

600 

5,000 

200 

Smelt 

11,000 

500 

1,500 

(.-) 

3,300 

200,000 
"700 

<  30,000 
'2,300 
•5,000 
'1,800 

100 

6,900 
lOO 

2,000 
800 

3,200 
200 

Oysters  seed  from  public  areas 

■  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  58,000  pounds,  valued  at  $7,200;  pots  and  traps,  182,000  pounds,  valued  at  $6,000;  and  lines,  54,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $2,200. 

»  Less  than  $100.  "  100  bushels.  '  3,700  bushels.  '  300  bushels.  '  700  bushels.  '  300  bushels. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  fisheries  of  Pennsylvaiiia  may  be  grouped  in 
three  districts,  including,  respectively,  those  of  Dela- 
ware River  and  Bay,  those  of  Lake  Erie,  and  those  of 
the  Susquehanna  River.  The  following  summaiy 
presents  the  chief  statistics  of  the  fishing  industry  for 
the  entire  state  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 1, 250 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $280,000 

Apparatus  of  capture 114,000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 87, 000 

Value  of  products 513, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — In  comparing 
the  statistics  as  to  the  products  of  Lake  Erie  for  1908 
with  those  for  previous  years,  allowance  should  be 
made  for  the  results  of  a  strike  lasting  seven  weeks 
during  the  fall  season,  and  for  the  effects  of  certain 
restrictive  legislation  recently  enacted.  In  1899  and 
1890  large  catches  of  lake  herring,  amounting  to  over 
10,000,000  and  8,000,000  pounds,  respectively,  made 
the  quantity  taken  much  larger  than  in  succeeding 
years.  The  total  catch  reported  for  the  Delaware 
River  and  Bay  district  in  1908  shows  a  marked  im- 
provement over  the  downward  movement  which  took 
place  from  1897  to  1904.  The  principal  data  for 
earlier  canvasses  are  shown  in  the  following  compara- 
tive summary: 

76786°— 11 15 


Persons 

ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EQtnPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

DI3TKICT  AND  TEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats,  in- 

cludmg 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total: 

1908 

1,237 
1,172 
1,825 

$394,000 
372,000 
321,000 

$280,000 
268,000 
203,000 

$114,000 
105,000 
117,000 

11,888,000 
10,414,000 
20,457,000 

$513,000 
473,000 
645,000 

190.3-4 

1897-1899 

Delaware    River    and 
Bay  district: 
1908 

514 

395 

1,115 

449 
425 
346 

274 
352 
364 

126,000 
73,000 
135,000 

14,000 
8,100 
6,000 

255,000 
291,000 
180,000 

116,000 
63,000 
110,000 

4,300 
2,800 
3,000 

160,000 
202,000 
90,000 

9,600 
10,000 
25,000 

9,800 
5,300 
3,000 

95,000 
89,000 
90,000 

3,987,000 
1,6.30,000 
5,331,000 

393,000 
416,000 
273,000 

7,508,000 
8,3f;8,000 
14,853,000 

254,000 
143,000 

1904 

1897 

264,000 
26,000 

Susquehanna  River 
district: 
1908 

1904 

24,000 
16,000 

233, 000 

1897     . 

Lake  Erie  district: 
1908     

1903 

305,000 
276,000 

1899     

Persons  employed. — The  statistics  concerning  the 
persons  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1908  are  shown  in  the  next  tabular  statement. 

The  only  vessel  engaged  in  transporting  fish  was 
employed  on  Lake  Erie,  and  the  data  pertaining  to  it 
ai'e  included  with  those  of  the  fisliing  vessels. 

Of  the  13  shoresmen,  11  were  connected  with  the 
vessel  fisheries.  Thus,  including  shoresmen,  491  of 
the  total  number  of  persons  reported  were  employed 
in  connection  with  the  vessel  fisheries  and  759  in  con- 
nection with  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.     The  excess 


226 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


of  the  number  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  over  that 
reported  for  vessel  fisheries  was  due  entirely  to  the 
influence  of  the  Susquehanna  River  district,  where  all 
fisheries  were  of  the  shore  and  boat  class.  In  both 
the  Lake  Erie  district  and  the  Delaware  River  and 
Bay  district,  persons  employed  in  vessel  fisheries  out- 
numbered those  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries. 


. 

PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
Independ- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Sala- 
ried em- 
ploy- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

1,250 

'561 

10 

679 

$199,000 

$6,800 

2  $192,000 

Vessel  fish- 
eries  

Shore  and 
boat  fish- 
eries  

480 

757 
13 

27 

534 

10 

443 

223 
13 

177,000 

19,000 
3,100 

6,800 

170,000 

19,000 
3,100 

Delaware  River  and 
Bay  district 

520 

76 

10 

434 

91,000 

6,800 

84,000 

Vessel  fisheries. . . 

266 

248 
6 

281 

10 

256 

172 
G 

228 

79,000 

10,000 
1,400 

108,000 

6,800 

72,000 

10,000 
1  400 

Shore  and   boat 

fisheries 

Shoresmen 

76 

Lake  Erie  district.... 

53 

108,000 

Vessel  fisheries  >. . 
Shore  and   boat 

fisheries 

Shoresmen 

214 

60 
7 

449 

27 
26 

187 

34 
7 

17 

97,000 

8,400 
1,700 

800 

::::::: 

97,000 

8,400 
1,700 

800 

Susquehanna    River 
district  (shore  and 
boat  fisheries) 

432 

'  Exclusive  of  30  proprietors  not  fishing. 

*  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $21,000. 

» Includes  one  vessel  engaged  in  transporting. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  distribution  of  the  total  capital 
invested  in  the  fisheries  of  Pennsylvania  in  1908: 


VALUE 

OF  EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHEB 

capital:  1908.- 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Delaware 

River 
and  Bay 
district. 

Lalfe  Erie 
district. 

Susque- 
hanna 
River 

district. 

Total 

$481,000 

$183,000 

$284,000 

$14,000 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

254,000 

180,000 

163,000 

23,000 

68,000 

51,000 

17,000 

26,000 

17,000 

600 

5,400 

3,500 

114,000 

73,000 

41,000 

54.000 

33,000 

106,000 
38,000 
31,000 

6,900 
68,000 
51,000 
17,000 
10,000 

8,300 

■  148,000 
148,000 
132,000 
10,000 

Steam  and  motor 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

Outfit 

Boats 

12,000 

7,500 

COO 

400 

3,200 

95.000 

70,000 

23.000 

24,000 

5,000 

4,300 

800 

Sail 

Row 

1,700 

3,300 

200 

9,800 

Other 

9,600 
3,400 
6,200 
30,000 
28,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  lioat  fisheries  . . 

9,800 

Cash 

1  Includes  one  vessel  engaged  in  transporting. 


The  statistics  concerning  the  number  and  tonnage  of 
the  vessels  and  the  number  of  the  boats  are  as  follows : 


vessels  and  boats:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 

Total. 

Delaware 

River 
and  Bay 
district. 

Lake  Erie 
district. 

Susque- 
hanna 
River 

district. 

Vessels: 

Number 

66 
1,152 

47 

mo 

19 
466 
333 

40 

6 

272 

15 

27 
582 

8 
126 

19 

456 

79 

27 

•39 
570 

39 
570 

Tonnage 

Steam  and  motor — 

Number 

Sail-            

NiiTTihpr 

Tonnage 

... 

43 
9 
6 

19 
9 

211 

4 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

52 

201 
6 

Other 

'  Includes  one  vessel  engaged  in  transporting. 

The  value  of  fishing  vessels  composed  over  one-half 
of  the  total  investment.  Steam  vessels  predominated, 
and  steam  and  motor  boats  also  largely  exceeded  all 
other  boats  in  value.  The  value  of  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture constituted  less  than  a  quarter  of  the  investment. 
Of  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory  property,  $20,000 
was  credited  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  $35,000 
to  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  cash  capital  amounted  to 
$3,400  in  the  case  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and  to 
$29,000  in  the  case  of  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  total 
investment  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  therefore,  was 
$90,000  and  that  in  vessel  fisheries  $391,000. 

In  the  Delaware  River  and  Bay  district  fishing 
vessels  represented  considerably  more  than  half  of  the 
total  investment,  and  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory 
property  and  the  cash  reported,  in  nearly  equal  pro- 
portions, accounted  for  the  bulk  of  the  remainder. 
The  value  of  apparatus  of  capture  formed  only  5  per 
cent  of  the  total  investment.  The  total  investment 
in  the  vessel  fisheries  of  this  district  was  $161,000,  as 
compared  with  $23,000  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

In  the  Lake  Erie  district  one-half  of  the  total  in- 
vestment was  in  fishing  vessels  and  one-third  in  appa- 
ratus of  capture.  A  few  sailboats  were  engaged  in 
fishing  on  this  lake,  but  no  sailing  vessels.  The  appa- 
ratus of  capture  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries  con- 
sisted almost  wholly  of  gill  nets.  The  total  investment 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Pennsylvania  on  Lake 
Erie  was  only  $53,000,  while  that  in  the  vessel  fish- 
eries was  $230,000. 

In  the  Susquehanna  River  district,  as  already  stated, 
the  entire  investment  was  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

The  distribution  of  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus 
of  capture,  by  fishery  districts  and  by  class  of  fisheries, 
is  shown  in  the  next  tabular  statement. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


227 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 

Total. 

Distributed  by 
districts. 

Distributed  by 
class  of  fisheries. 

KIND. 

Dela- 
ware 
River 
and 
Bay 
district. 

Lake 
Erie 
dis- 
trict. 

Susque- 
hanna 
River 

district. 

Vessel 
fish- 
eries. 

Shore 
and 
boat 
fish- 
eries. 

310 
82 
160 
126 
Ml 
19,228 
66 
34 
600 

310 
82 

310 

Din  nets 

82 

ieo 

150 

Fiahbaskets  and  traps 

126 
651 
100 

'iyisie' 

126 

661 

74 
23 

19,054 
66 

1,912 

00 

11 
600 

34 

600 

Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  230,  gives  sta- 
tistics of  the  quantity  and  the  value  of  the  fishery 
products  of  Pennsylvania,  by  species  and  by  apparatus 
of  capture.  Oysters,  blue  pike,  and  lake  herring  con- 
tributed to  the  total  value  of  the  product  34  per  cent, 
19  per  cent,  and  18  per  cent,  respectively,  representing 
in  the  aggregate  71  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  Sea 
bass  furnished  9  per  cent  of  the  total  value,  while  shad 
and  whitefish  each  contributed  7  per  cent.  Thus  six 
species  are  shown  to  account  for  94  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  products.  The  remaining  6  per  cent  was  con- 
tributed by  21  species.  Of  the  six  leading  species, 
oysters  and  sea  bass  were  taken  from  Delaware  Kiver 
and  Bay;  blue  pike,  lake  herring,  and  whitefish  from 
Lake  Erie;  and  shad  in  nearly  equal  quantities  from 
the  Susquehanna  and  the  Delaware  Rivers.  Fish 
proper  represented  66  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
products  and  oysters  the  remaining  34  per  cent. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — Of  the  total  value  of 
the  fishery  products  for  the  state,  the  Delaware  River 
and  Bay  district  furnished  50  per  cent,  the  Lake  Erie 
district  45  per  cent,  and  the  Susquehanna  River  dis- 
trict only  5  per  cent.  The  quantity  and  value  of  the 
fishery  products  of  the  Delaware  River  and  Bay  dis- 
trict, distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, are  shown  in  Table  2,  on  page  230. 

Oysters  contributed  69  per  cent,  or  more  than  two- 
thirds,  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of 
this  district.  Of  the  fish  proper  reported,  sea  bass,  ale- 
wives,  and  shad  were  the  most  important  as  regards 
quantity.  Sea  bass  and  shad  exceeded  o^her  species 
of  fish  in  value  also,  representing,  respectively,  56  per 
cent  and  26  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fish  caught,  and 
17  per  cent  and  8  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products 
for  the  district,  being  surpassed  only  by  oysters;  the 
alewife  catch,  however,  was  of  comparatively  little 
value.  The  sea-bass  product  was  taken  wholly  with 
lines,  and  the  shad  and  alewives  were  taken  with  gill 
nets  and  seines. 

The  statistics  of  the  fishery  products  df  the  Lake 
Erie  district  are  given  in  Table  3,  on  page  231. 

One-half  of  the  Lake  Erie  catch  was  composed  of 
lake  herring,  but  the  value  of  tliis  product  was  some- 


what lower  than  that  of  the  blue-pike  catch,  which  con- 
tributed 41  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  Lake  Erie 
product,  as  compared  with  a  corresponding  proportion 
of  39  per  cent  for  lake  herring.  Whitefish  ranked  third 
in  both  quantity  and  value,  the  whitefish  catch  repre- 
senting 16  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  of  this 
district.  Practically  the  entire  amount  and  value 
(96  per  cent  in  each  case)  of  the  fishery  product 
of  the  Lake  Erie  district  was  contributed  by  these 
three  varieties  of  fish.  Yellow  perch  was  the  only 
other  species  that  represented  more  than  1  per  cent 
of  either  the  total  quantity  or  the  total  value.  Gill 
nets,  which  were  used  for  securing  practically  the 
entire  lake-herring  catch  and  the  larger  part  of  the 
catch  of  both  pike  perch  and  whitefish,  were  by  far  the 
most  important  kind  of  apparatus  of  capture  employed 
by  the  fisheries  of  this  district. 

Table  4,  on  page  231,  presents,  for  the  Susquehanna 
River  district,  statistics  of  the  fishery  products  similar 
to  those  given  for  the  other  districts  in  Tables  2  and  3. 

Shad  alone  represented  79  per  cent  of  the  total  quan- 
tity and  73  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River  catch,  eels  being  the  only  other  species  of 
any  importance.  About  two-thirds  of  the  shad  product 
was  caught  by  dip  and  bow  nets  and  the  remainder 
by  seines  and  gill  nets. 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the  value 
of  products,  by  species,  for  the  state  and  for  each  dis- 
trict : 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Delaware 

River 
and  Bay 
district. 

Susque- 
hanna 
River 

district. 

Lake  Erie 
district. 

Total 

$513,000 

$254,000 

$26,000 

$233,000 

Fish 

338,000 
96,000 
90,000 
44.000 
38,000 
37,000 
6,400 
26,000 
176,000 
134,000 
42,000 

79,000 

26,000 

233,000 
96,000 

Pike  perch  (blue  pilce) 

90,000 

Sea  bass            

44,000 
20,000 

Shad 

19,000 

Whitefish 

37,000 

0,400 

8,400 

176,000 

134,000 

42,000 

(') 
7,400 

All  other 

10,000 

Seed  from  public  areas 

1  Less  than  $100. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  next  tabular 
statement  shows  the  distribution,  by  species  arranged 
according  to  value,  of  the  value  of  products  for  the 
state  as  a  whole  and  for  the  two  classes  of  fisheries. 

The  vessel  fisheries  account  for  84  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  fishery  products  of  the  state  and  for  76 
per  cent  of  that  of  the  total  fish  catch.  Of  the  products 
of  this  class  of  fisheries,  oysters  were  by  far  the  most 
important,  contributing  41  per  cent  of  the  total  value; 
pike  perch  and  lake  herring  were  the  most  important 
fish  products,  together  representing  39  per  cent  of  the 
total.  Among  the  products  of  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  shad,  reported  exclusively  by  this  class  of 


228 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


fisheries,  had  a  value  nearly  as  great  as  the  combined 
value  of  all  other  fish. 

VALUE  OF  PRODUCT.S:   1908. 


Total 

Fish 

Pike  perch  (blue  pike) 

Lake  nerring 

Sea  bass 

Shad 

Whitefish 

Alewives 

AU  other 

Oysters 

Market,  from  private  areas 

Seed,  from  public  areas 


Total. 


$513,000 


338,000 

96,000 

90,000 

44,000 

38,000 

37,000 

6,400 

26,000 

178,000 

134,000 

42,000 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$433,000 


257,000 
85,000 
&3,000 
44,000 


34,000 


10,000 
176,000 
134,000 

42,000 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$80,000 


80,000 
11,000 
0,400 


38,000 
2,600 
6,400 

16,000 


Statistics  concerning  the  products  of  the  vessel  fish- 
eries of  the  Delaware  River  and  Bay  district  are  pre- 
sented in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


Total- 


Fish: 

Bluefish 

Cod 

Croaker 

Flounders 

Soup 

Sea  Dass 

Squeteague,  or  sea  trout 

Sturgeon 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas . 
Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas 


PRODOCTS  or  VESSEL 
FISHERIES,  D  E  L  A- 
WARE  RIVER  AND 
BAT  DISTRICT:  1908.1 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


2,906,000 


7,500 

50,000 

14,000 

4,700 

11,000 

860,000 

12,000 

8,400 

2  900,000 

'1,032,000 


Value. 


$225,000 


800 

800 

500 

200 

300 

44,000 

200 

2,(500 

134,000 

42,000 


1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,938,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $176,000;  lines,  959,000  pounds,  valued  at  $47,000;  and  gill  nets, 
8,400  pounds,  valued  at  $2,600. 

s  129,000  bushels. 

« 148,000  bushels. 

Oysters  were  the  principal  species  reported  for  the 
vessel  fisheries  of  this  district  and  represented  78  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  their  catch.  The  remaining  22  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  was  contributed  by  eight  species 
of  fish  proper,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  stur- 
geon, were  taken  with  lines. 

The  next  tabular  statement  gives  the  statistics  of 
the  products  of  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Dela- 
ware River  and  Bay  district. 

The  chief  products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of 
this  district  were,  in  point  of  value,  shad  and  alewives, 
both  fresh  and  salted.  The  value  of  these  two  species 
together  constituted  90  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
the  catch.  Gill  nets  and  seines  were  the  principal 
apparatus  of  capture  used  in  this  class  of  fisheries. 

Statistics  as  to  the  products  of  the  vessel  fislieries 
and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Lake  Erie  are  pre- 
sented in  Table  3 ,  on  page  231.  From  a  reference  to  this 
it  will  be  seen  that  in  both  classes  of  fisheries  blue  pike, 
lake  herring,  and  whitefish,  in  tlie  order  named,  were 
the  most  important  products  as  regards  both  quantity 
and  value. 


PRODUCTS  OF  THE  SHORE   AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF 
DELAWARE   RIVER  AND   BAY  DISTRICT:   1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Product  caught  by- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines.i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total.. 

1,081,000 

$29,000 

415,000 

$10,000 

665.000 

$19,000 

Aiewives,  fresh. . 

615,000 
148,000 
12,000 
7,500 
4,200 
281,000 
7,200 
5,500 

5,. 300 

1.100 

1,000 

500 

380 

20,000 

800 

400 

300,  (XW 

3,000 

315,000 
148,000 

8,200 
500 

4.200 
181.000 

2,200 

5,500 

2,300 
1  100 

-\lewives,  salted 

Carp,  German. .. 

3,500 
7,000 

200 
500 

800 
300 

Catfeh  and  bullheads 

Eels 

Shad 

100,000 
5,000 

6,200 
500 

13,000 
200 

Striped  bass... 

Suckers,  or  mullet 

400 

1  Includes  eel  pots,  with  catch  of  4,200  pounds,  valued  at  $300. 

2  Less  than  $100. 

As  already  indicated,  the  Susquehanna  River  fish- 
eries were  all  of  the  shore  and  boat  class. 

Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  indicates  the  distribution,  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture  arranged  in  the  order  of  the  value  of 
their  catch,  of  the  value  of  products  for  the  different 
fishery  districts  and  for  the  two  classes  of  fislieries, 
respectively.  Gill  nets  took  products  valued  at  46  per 
cent  of  the  total  value,  and  these  were  the  most 
important  form  of  apparatus  in  the  Lake  Erie  district, 
where  the  catcli  by  lines  and  pound  and  trap  nets  con- 
tributed less  than  7  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  prod- 
ucts. Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  which  were  used  only  in 
the  Delaware  River  and  Bay  district,  took  products 
having  a  value  equal  to  69  per  cent  of  the  total  for  this 
district  and  34  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  state.  In 
the  Susquehanna  River  district  the  largest  value  of 
products,  46  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  district,  was 
reported  for  dip  and  bow  nets,  the  use  of  which  was 
confined  to  this  district. 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

Total. 

Distributed  by  districts. 

Dlslribiited  by 
class  of  fisheries. 

Delaware 

River 
and  Bay 
district. 

Susque- 
hanna 
River 

district. 

Lake 

Krie 

district. 

Vessel 
fisher- 
ies. 

Shore 
and 
boat 

fisher- 
ies. 

Total  .        -* 

$513,000 

$254,000 

$26,000 

$233,000 

$433,000 

880,000 

Gill  nets               

236,000 

176,000 

49,000 

22,000 

13,000 

12,000 

5,100 

1,100 

13,000 

176,000 

47,000 

18,000 

3,000 

219,000 

210.000 
17(;.(X)0 
47. 000 

26,000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Lines             

1,600 
3.400 

100 

1,000 

22,000 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

Dip  and  bow  nets 

13,000 

13,000 

12.000 

5.100 

800 

12,000 

5,100 

All  other 

300 

1,100 

Oysters. — The  yield  of  oysters  in  1908,  which  rej)re- 
sented  34  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products,  was 
larger  than  that  in  any  previous  year.  The  product 
was  entirely  from  Delaware  Bay;  all  the  market  oys- 
ters were  taken  from  private  beds,  and  all  the  seed 
oysters  from  public  areas. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


229 


The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  changes 
in  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  yield  since  1880: 


• 

TEAR. 

OYSTER  PRODUCT. 

(Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

jgOg                                                                 

1,938.000 
831.000 

l,8(i2,000 
927,000 

1,249.000 
0) 

$176,000 

104.000 

1897                                                        

144,000 

102,000 

IggO                                            

131.000 

1880 

188.000 

'  Not  reported. 

Blue  pike. — The  catch  of  blue  pike,  which  ranked 
first  among  the  fish  proper,  was  taken  wholly  on  Ijake 
Erie,  and  contributed  41  per  cent  to  the  value  of  the 
product  from  this  district.  The  yield  in  1908  was 
larger  than  that  in  any  previous  year  since  1890  and 
its  value  greater  than  that  reported  for  any  previous 
year.  The  follomng  tabular  statement  presents  the 
statistics  for  1890  and  succeeding  canvasses: 


YEAR. 

BLUE-PmE  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2.925.000 
2,179,000 
1.523.000 
3,248-,  000 

$96,000 

1903                          

79.000 

46.000 

1890 

70,000 

^=L -— 

LAKE-HERRINO 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                              

3.796,000 
6.760.000 
10.742.000 
8,013,000 

$90,000 

1903                                          

208.000 

1899  .              

134.000 

1890                                     

80,000 

Lake  herring. — The  lake-herring  product  contrib- 
uted 18  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery  products 
reported  for  the  state  and  39  per  cent  of  that  reported 
for  the  Lake  Erie  district.  Wit*h  the  exception  of  a 
fractional  percentage,  the  entire  cjuantity  was  taken 
by  gill  nets.  Of  the  value  of  Ihe  Lake  Erie  catch,  92 
per  cent  was  credited  to  vessel  fisheries.  The  catch  of 
this  fish  has  decreased  rapidly  in  quantity  since  1899, 
in  which  year  10,742,000  pounds  were  taken.  The 
following  statement,  which  gives  the  (luantity  and 
value  reported  for  certain  earlier  years,  shows  that  the 
highest  value  was  reached  in  190.3: 


Sea  lass. — This  species,  the  value  of  which  amounted 
to  9  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  the  fishery  products  of 
the  state,  was,  like  oysters,  taken  only  in  the  Delaware 
River  and  Bay  district,  where  it  contributed  17  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch.  The  entire  quantity 
was  taken  with  lines  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  repre- 
sented nearly  20  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch  made 
by  vessel  fisheries  of  the  Delaware  River  and  Bay  dis- 
trict.    No  sea-bass  product  was  reported  in  1904,  but  at 


previous  canvasses  the  yields  were  as  large  as,  or  larger 
than,  that  of  1908,  although  of  somewhat  smaller 
value.  The  changes  in  the  catch  are  indicated  in  the 
following  tabular  statement: 


TEAB. 

SEA-BASg  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                          

860,000 
900,000 
902,000 
803,000 

$44,000 

1897                                            

36,000 

38,000 

1890                                     

29,000 

Shad. — This  fish  was  taken  in  both  the  Delaware 
River  and  Bay  district  and  the  Susquehanna  River 
district,  53  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for  the  state 
being  credited  to  the  former.  Of  the  total  product  of 
fish  proper,  this  species  formed  1 1  per  cent  in  the  state, 
73  per  cent  in  the  Susquehanna  River  district,  and  26 
per  cent  in  the  Delaware  River  and  Bay  fisheries. 
Seines  and  gill  nets  were  the  principal  forms  of  appara- 
tus of  capture  used  in  the  sljad  fisheries  of  the  Delaware 
River  and  Bay  district,  seines  taking  about  two-thirds 
of  the  catch;  in  the  Susquehanna  River  fisheries, 
though  these  two  forms  of  apparatus  were  used,  dip 
and  bow  nets  were  used  much  more  extensively. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  that  there 
has  been  a  marked  decline  in  the  product  of  this 
species  since  1890,  interrupted  only  in  1897,  when  the 
catch  was  of  greater  weight  though  of  less  value  than 
in  1892: 


YEAR. 

SlIAD  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908          

693,000 

836,000 

2, 0O7, 000 

1,996,000 

2,899,000 

560,000 

$38,000 

1904                                       

52,000 

1897               

64,000 

1892 

110,000 

131,000 

1880                                          

28,000 

Whitejish. — The  value  of  the  whitefish  catch  formed 
7  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  state  product  and 
16  per  cent  of  that  of  the  Lake  Erie  product.  The 
vessel  fisheries  of  Lake  Erie  took,  by  means  of  gill  nets, 
products  valued  at  92  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for 
whitefish.  Though  greater  than  the  catch  in  1903, 
the  quantity  taken  in  1908  was  much  less  than  that 
reported  in  any  year  previous  to  1903,  while,  as  the 
following  tabular  statement  shows,  the  value  in  1908 
was  practically  the  same  as  that  in  1880  and  that  in 
1890: 


YEAR. 

■WHITEFISH 

PRODUCT. 

QXiantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                            

455,000 
53,000 
616,000 
758,000 
975,000 

$37,000 

1903                                              

3,900 

1899 

47,000 

1890  .                                

36,000 

1880 

35,000 

230 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1  .—PENNSYLVANIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PKODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

GiU  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

Ail  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity- 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

11,888,000 

t513,000 

7,659,000 

1235,000 

970,000       $49,000 

722,000 

$22,000 

322,000 

$13,000 

2,215,000 

$194,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

767,000 

1,000 

7,500 

71,000 

26,000 

50,000 
14,000 
33,000 
54,000 
4,700 

3,796,000 
47,000 
85,000 
14,000 

2,925,000 

19,000 

12,000 

11,000 

860,  OOQ 

693,000 

12.000 

/,200 

16,000 

600 

57,000 

700 

10,000 

455,000 

> 906,000 

6,400 

200 

800 

2,200 

1,700 

800 
500 
300 
5,000 
200 

90,000 

200 

3,400 

1,600 

96,000 

800 

1,000 

300 

44,000 

38,000 

200 

800 

3,700 

500 

1.500 

400 
37,000 

134,000 
42,000 

300,000 

3,000 

467,000 

3,400 

Black  bass 

1,000 
7,500 
2.000 
1,000 

50,000 
14,000 

200 
800 
100 
100 

800 
500 

Blueflsh 

44,000 
7,000 

800 
500 

8,200 
500 

800 
(') 

13,000 
11,000 

200 
600 

4,000 
7,200 

300 
500 

Catosh  and  bullheads 

Cod 

Croaker 

400 

(«) 

33,000 

300 

Eels 

600 
4,700 

200 

63,000 

6,000 

Flnnndpr^,  . 

3,781,000 

47,000 

73,000 

7,500 

2,769,000 
19,000 

89,000 

200 

2,900 

400 

90,000 
800 

15,000 

500 

Ling,  or  eeipout 

12,000 
600 

156,000 

500 
(') 

5,800 

Pilce  and  piclcerel 

5,800 

1,200 

Pilce  perch  f  blue  pike) 

Pike  perch  (sauger) 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

12,000 

i,666 

Soup....... 

ii,666 

860,000 

300 
44,000 

Beabass 

Shad 

150,000 

9,200 

238,000 

17,000 

206,000 

12,000 

Squeteague 

12,000 

200 

Striped  bass 

6,000 
8,400 

500 
2,600 

2,200 

200 

Sturgeon 

7,600 
500 

28,000 

1,100 
500 

500 

Caviar 

Suckers,  or  mullet 

16,000 
700 

200 
(=) 

6,600 

400 

7,600 

400 

Trout,  lake 

White  bass 

10,000 
23,000 

400 
1,900 

Whiteflsh 

432,000 

35,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

•906,000 
< 1,032,000 

134  000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. 

•1,032,000 

42,000 

1  Includes  apparatas,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,938,000  pounds,  valued  at  $176,000;  dip  nets  and  bow  nets,  205.000  pounds,  valued  at  $12  000 
flsh  baskets  and  traps,  56,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,100;  spears  and  gigs,  6,000  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  eel  pots,  4,200  pounds,  valued  at  $300;  aud  (yke  and  lioop  net's,  5,300 
pounds,  valued  at  $300. 

'  Less  than  $100.  » 129,000  bushels.  <  148,000  bushels. 

Table  2.— PENNSYLVANIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  DELAWARE  RIVER  AND  BAY  DISTRICT:  1908. 


Total. 


Fish: 

Alewives,  fresh 

Alewives,  salted 

Blueflsh 

Carp,  German 

Catnsh  and  bullheads. 


Cod 

Croaker 

Eels 

Flounders. 
Bcup 


Shad 

Squeteague,  or  weakfish . 

Striped  bass 

Sturgeon 

Suckers,  or  mullet 


Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas. 
Oysters,  seed,  from  pubUc  areas 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


3,987,000 


615,000 
148,000 

7,500 
12,000 

7,500 

50,000 
14.000 
4,200 
4,700 
11,000 

860.000 
281,000 
12,000 
7,200 
8,400 
5,500 

'906,000 
"1,032,000 


Value. 


$254,000 


5,300 

r,ioo 

800 

1,000 

500 

800 
500 
300 
200 
300 

44,000 

20,000 

200 

800 

2,600 

400 

134,000 
42,000 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


959,000 


7,500 


50,000 
14,000 


4,700 
11,000 


860,000 


12,000 


Value. 


$47,000 


800 
500 


200 
300 


All  other  apparatus.' 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


615.000 
148,000 


12.000 
7,500 


7.200 
8.400 
5., 500 

a  906. 000 
=  1,032,000 


Value. 


$207,000 


5,300 
1,100 


,000 
500 


300 


20.000 


800 

2,600 

400 

l.i4,000 
42,000 


1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,938,000  pounds,  valued  at  $176,0001  seines,  661,000  pounds,  valued  at  $18,000;  gill  nets,  424,000  pounds, 
valued  at  813  J)00;  and  eel  pots,  4,200  pounds,  valued  at  $300.  ..i~.  ..b  ..j~. 

2 129,000  bushels. 
>  148,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— PENNSYLVANIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  ERIE  DISTRICT:  1908. 


281 


AOOSEOATE. 

VESSEL  nSHEBIES.l 

SHORE  AND  BOAT  ITSHEEIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total. 

Product  caught  by — 

SPKCTES. 

Gill  nets.! 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

7.508,000 

S233,000 

6,770,000 

$208,000 

738,000 

$25,000 

416,000 

$12,000 

322,000 

$13,000 

53.000 
11.000 
33.000 
3,796,000 
47,000 

85,000 

8,100 

2,925,000 

19,000 

12,000 

7,600 

500 

44,000 

700 

10,000 

455,000 

800 
600 
300 
90,000 
200 

3,400 

500 

90,000 

800 

1,000 

1,100 
500 
700 

(') 
400 
37,000 

40,000 

600 

13,000 

11,000 

33,ono 

263,000 

2,600 

21,000 

600 

302,000 

200 
600 
300 

6,400 

(") 

900 
(») 
11,000 

13,000 
11,000 
33,000 
15,000 

200 

900 

100 

600 

400 

3,533,000 

44,000 

64,000 

7,500 

2,623,000 

19,000 

(') 

83,000 
200 

2,500 

400 

85,000 

800 

300 

248,000 
2,600 

9,200 

5,900 
(■) 

400 

500 

12,000 

600 

150,000 

SOO 

(3) 

Pike  percn  (blue  pike) 

146,000 

4,800 

5,800 

12,000 

7,600 

500 

28,000 

1,000 

1,100 
500 
500 

12,000 

7,600 

500 

28,000 

1,000 

1,100 

500 

15,000 
700 

200 

(•) 

600 

(•) 

500 

White  bass 

10,000 
32,000 

466' 

2,600 

10,000 
23,000 

400 

Whitefish 

423,000 

34,000 

8,500 

700 

1,900 

I  All  the  product  was  caught  by  gill  nets. 


'  Includes  lines  used  (or  taking  catfish  and  bullheads. 


a  Less  than  $100. 


Table  4.— PENNSYLVANIA— FISHERY   PRODUCTS   OF  SUSQUEHANNA   RIVER   DISTRICT:  1908.' 


Total . 


AlewWes,  fresh 

Black  bass 

Carp,  Gennan 

Cdtflsh  and  bullheads. 


Eels 

Pike  and  pickerel .. 

Shad 

Suckers,  or  mullet . 


Quantity 

(pounds). 


393,000 


$26,000 


3,800 
1.000 
6,000 
7,300 

49,000 

5,800 

312,000 

7,500 


Value. 


0) 
200 
400 
500 

4,700 

1,208 

19,000 

400 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BT- 


Lines.' 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


59.000 


1,000 

2,000 

100 

500 
5,800 
50,000 


Value. 


$4,600 


200 
100 

(') 

(') 

1,200 
3,000 


All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


333,000 


3,800 


4,000 
7,200 


262.000 
7.500 


Value. 


$22,000 


(') 


300 
500 


4,700 


16,000 
40O 


'  All  taken  in  shore  and  l»at  fisheries. 

•  Includes  gill  nets  used  for  taking  shad  {5il,n00  pounds,  valued  at  $3,000). 

'Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  [ollows:  Dip  and  bow  nets,  205,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000;  fish  baskets  and  traps,  56,000  pounds,  valued  at  $5,100;  seines, 
61,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,400;  spears  and  gigs,  6,000  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  and  fyke  and  hoop  nets,  5,300  pounds,  valued  at  $300. 
<  Less  than  $100. 


RHODE    ISLAND. 

The  general  statistics  for  the  fisheries  of  Rhode 
Island,  as  reported  for  1908,  are  as  follows: 

Number  of  persons  employed 1, 493 

Capital : 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $647, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 230, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 627, 000 

Value  of  products 1,  752, 000 

Comparison  with,  previous  canvasses. — The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  comparative  statistics  for 
those  years  for  which  figures  are  available: 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  or  EQUIPMENT. 

PE0DUCT8. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 
and  lx>ats, 
including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908    .     . 

1,404 
1,708 
1,425 
1,340 
1,284 
1,602 

$877,000 
715,000 
535,000 
437,000 
406,000 
392,000 

$647,000 
508.000 
367,000 
287,000 
286,000 
297,000 

$230,000 
207.000 
169,000 
151,000 
119,000 
95,000 

44,254,000 
23,896.000 
21.614,000 
32.854,000 
127,365,000 
88,050,000 

$1,752,000 

1,547,000 

1,156,000 

955,000 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1889 

935,000 
881,000 

1880 , 

A  comparison  of  the  returns  for  1908  with  those  for 
1905  shows  an  increase  in  the  value  of  equipment  and 


232 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


in  quantity  and  value  of  products,  and  a  decrease  in 
the  number  of  persons  employed.  For  the  total 
investment  in  equipment,  the  investment  in  appara- 
tus of  capture,  and  the  value  of  products,  the  sta- 
tistics show  gains  at  each  canvass,  as  compared  with 
the  one  preceding.  The  variations  in  quantity  are  due 
chiefly  to  the  great  fluctuations  in  the  menhaden  catch, 
which  was  over  112,000,000  pounds  in  1889,  less 
than  1,000,000  pounds  in  1902,  and  nearly  18,000,000 
pounds  in  1 908.  The  total  value  of  products,  however, 
is  little  afl'ected  by  the  catch  of  this  low-priced  fish. 

Persons  employed. — The  distribution  of  the  persons 
employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state  is  shown  in  the 
tabular  statement  given  below.  Almost  one-half  of 
the  total-  number  were  employed  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries. 


PEBSON3  employed:  1905. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLAS.S. 

Total. 

Pro- 
prie- 
tors and 
inde- 
pend- 
ent 
fisher- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ploy- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

1,493 

1565 

26 

902 

$390,000 

$27,000 

'$363,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Transportinc:  vessels. . . 
Shore  and  boat  fisheries 
Shoresmen 

629 
49 

726 
89 

132 

12 

421 

23 
3' 

474 
37 

302 
89 

225,000 
24,000 
98,000 
43,000 

23,000 
"3,' 966' 

202,000 
24,000 
94,000 
43  000 

'  Exclusive  of  24  proprietors  not  fishing, 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $34,000. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — Statistics  with  respect 
to  the  distribution  of  the  equipment  and  other  capital 
reported  for  the  fisheries  of  the  state  are  as  follows : 


CLASS  OF  INTESTMENT. 


Total 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

Fishing 

Steam  and  motor 

Vessel 

Outfit 

Sail 

Vessel 

Outfit 

Barges 

Transporting  (steam  and  motor) 

Vessel 

Outfit 

Boats 

Steam  and  motor , 

Sail 

Row 

Other , 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash 


equipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 


Value. 


$1,504,000 


614,000 

464,000 

460,000 

372,000 

88,000 

1,700 

1,100 

600 

2,400 

50,000 

41,000 

9,100 

133,000 

110,000 

3,300 

18,000 

1,400 

230,000 

111,000 

119,000 

451,000 

176,000 


Num- 
ber. 


138 
119 
112 


815 
232 

17 
550 

10 


Ton- 
nage. 


2,055 
1,847 
1,828 


208 


Of  the  total  capital  employed  in  the  fishing  indus- 
try, 43  per  cent  was  invested  in  vessels  and  their  out- 
fits and  boats  and  15  per  cent  in  apparatus  of  capture, 
while  42  per  cent  represented  the  value  of  shore  and 
accessory  property  and  the  amount  of  cash  reported. 

Exclusive  of  shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash, 
the  investment  credited  to  fishing  and  transporting 


vessels  aggregated  $626,000,  of  which  82  per  cent  rep- 
resented the  value  of  the  vessels  and  18  per  cent  the 
value  of  apparatus  of  capture.  For  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  the  corresponding  investment  was 
$251,000,  of  which  53  per  cent  represented  the  value 
of  boats  and  47  per  cent  the  value  of  apparatus  of 
capture. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  number 
of  the  more  important  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture 
reported : 


Beam  trawls 

Eel  and  lobster  pots. 

Fyke  nets 

(iill  nets 

Pound  and  trap  nets 
Seines 


APPAEATUS  OF  CAPTURE:  1908. 


Total. 


13 

22,840 

608 

630 

276 

61 


TJsed  in — 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


10 
010 

46 
622 

93 

17 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


3 

22,230 

662 

8 

183 
44 


Products,  hy  species. — Table  1,  on  page  234,  gives  the 
weight  and  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the  state, 
distributed  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture. 

The  value  of  the  shellfish  products  of  the  state, 
including  the  squid,  constituted  69  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  fishery  products.  The  oyster  product,  as 
measured  by  value,  was  the  most  important  in  the 
state.  In  quantity  also,  if  figured  at  gross  weight, 
the  oyster  catch  largely  exceeded  the  catch  of  all  other 
fishery  products,  amounting  to  nearly  50,000  tons  on 
this  basis. 

Products,  hy  class  offisJieries. — The  products  of  the 
vessel  fisheries  are  shown,  by  species  and  apparatus  of 
capture,  in  Table  2,  on  page  235,  and  the  products  of 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  similarly  distributed 
in  Table  3,  on  page  236.  The  following  tabular  state- 
ment gives  the  distribution,  according  to  species,  of 
the  total  value  of  products  reported  for  the  state  and 
for  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries, 
respectively : 


Tola! 

Fish 

Scup 

Squeteague.  or  wealcfish 

Flatfish  and  flounders 

Menhaden 

Cod 

Butterflsli .• 

Mackerel 

Swordftsh 

Tautog 

Sea  bass 

Haddock » 

Eels 

Mackerel,  chub 

Pollack 

All  other 

Oysters 

Lobster 

Clams 

Sq  uid 

All  other 


VALtjE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$1,752,000 


543,000 

158,000 

72,000 

50,000 

48,000 

42,000 

42,000 

25,000 

18,000 

17,000 

12,000 

11,000 

11,000 

9.800 

7,800 

21,000 

969,000 

152,000 

77,000 

6,600 

3,800 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$1,198,000 


314,000 

98,000 

31,000 

30,000 

47,000 

23,000 

13.000 

21.000 

18,000 

3,900 

6,900 

S.500 

1,300 

5.400 

4.100 

3,S0() 

879,000 

2,200 

900 

900 

100 


Shorf!  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$554,000 


228,000 

60,000 

41,000 

19,000 

900 

19,000 

29,000 

4,200 

2110 

13,000 

5,900 

2,500 

9,200 

4,500 

3,800 

17,000 

90,  (KKJ 

150. 0(X) 

76,000 

5,700 

3,800 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


233 


The  vessel  fisheries  contributed  a  httle  more  than 
two-tliirds  of  the  total  value  of  products,  including 
practically  all  of  the  value  reported  for  the  menhaden 
and  swordfish  catches  and  91  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  oyster  product. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — In  the  following 
tabular  statement  the  value  of  products  is  distributed 
according  to  apparatus  of  capture  for  all  fisheries  and 
for  the  vessel  fisheries  and  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries separately: 


KIND  or  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs 

Lobster  and  eel  pots 

Lines 

Seines 

Gill  nets 

Harpoons  and  spears 

Beam  trawls 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 

Minor  apparatus 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$1,752,000 


1,008, 

388, 

163, 

55, 

40. 

21, 

19, 

14, 

5 

39, 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$1,198,000 


879,000 

196,000 

3,600 

35,000 

33,000 

19.000 

18,000 

12,000 

1,600 

900 


Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 


$554,000 


129,000 

192,000 

1.59.000 

20,000 

6,900 

1,900 

1,400 

1,500 

4.200 

38,000 


The  catch  with  dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes  consisted 
of  oysters,  clams,  mussels,  and  scallops,  and  the  value 
of  the  products  taken  in  this  way  represented  58  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  reported  for  all  fisheries,  nearly 
three-fourths  of  the  total  value  reported  for  the  vessel 
fisheries,  and  not  quite  one-fourth  of  the  total  value 
reported  for  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  In  the  latter 
class  of  fisheries  the  catch  with  pound  nets,  trap  nets, 
and  weirs  led  in  value,  the  principal  species  taken  by 
these  apparatus  being  scup,  squeteague,  and  butterfish. 

Oysters.— The  total  oyster  yield  in  1908  was  1,229,000 
bushels,  with  a  value  of  $969,000,  of  wliich  1,223,000 
bushels,  valued  at  $967,000,  were  market  oysters,  and 
5,500  bushels,  valued  at  $2,500,  were  seed  oysters. 
All  of  the  market  oysters  were  from  private  areas,  and 
of  the  seed  oysters  3,000  bushels  were  from  public  areas 
and  2,500  bushels  from  private  areas.  Seven  hundred 
and  twenty  thousand  bushels,  valued  at  $590,000,  were 
reported  as  taken  from  Rhode  Island  oyster  beds  by 
Connecticut  fishermen.  Recent  canvasses  have  shown 
a  material  increase  in  the  market-oyster  product  of  the 
state,  as  indicated  by  the  following  tabular  statement : 


YEAK. 

MASKET-OTSTEE 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908 

1,223,000 
755,000 
516,000 
457,000 
203,000 

$967,000 
874,000 
561,000 
505,000 
272,000 

1905 

1902 

1898 

1889 

Lobster. — The  lobster  catch  formed  an  important 
part  of  the  shellfish  products  of  the  state.  Compara- 
tive figures  for  a  series  of  years,  as  given  in  the  follow- 
ing tabular  statement,  show  a  general  increase  in  the 
quantity  and  value  of  the  lobstet  product: 


LOBSTER  PBODUCT. 

TRAn. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1,425,000 
530,000 
397,000 
578,000 
456,000 
423,000 

$152,000 
64,000 
39,000 
43,000 
22,000 
16  000 

1905 

1902 

1898 

18S9 

1880 

The  great  increase  in  the  lobster  product  during 
recent  years,  and  especially  since  1905,  is  due  largely 
to  the  work  of  the  Rhode  Island  Commission  of  Inland 
Fisheries,  which,  as  a  result  of  numerous  experiments, 
has  devised  a  method  of  rearing  young  lobsters  until 
they  become  able  to  care  for  themselves,  and  has  thus 
made  it  possible  to  increase  greatly  the  number  of  lob- 
sters inhabiting  the  waters  of  the  state. 

Scup. — This  was  the  leading  fish  in  value,  represent- 
ing 9  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery  products  and 
29  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch  of  fish  proper. 

The  catch  of  scup  for  different  years  has  been  as  fol- 
lows: 


SCUP  PRODUCT. 

TIAB. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

4,616,000 
5,540,000 
6,833,000 
6,390,000 
6,064,000 

$158,000 
138,000 

1905 

1902 

1898  .                

78,000 
92,000 

1889 

The  figures  show  a  decrease  in  quantity  together 
with  an  increase  in  value  since  1905,  and  a  large 
increase  in  average  value  since  1898. 

Squeteague. — Of  the  fish  proper,  squeteague  ranked 
second  with  respect  to  the  value  of  the  catch  in  1908. 
The  statistics  for  the  various  canvasses  since  1880  are 
as  follows: 


TBAB. 

SQtraiTEAGUE 
PBODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,427,000 
3,223,000 
3,158,000 
3,126,000 
406,000 
326,000 

$72,000 
86  000 

1905 

1902                      

76,000 
04,000 
17,000 
(') 

1898 

1889                          

1880 

1  Not  reported  separately. 

The  largest  catch  in  respect  to  both  quantitj^  and 
value  was  reported  in  1905.  The  decrease  in  the  catch 
of  this  species  shown  in  1908  has  been  attributed  to 
the  fact  that,  just  as  the  squeteague  were  beginning 
to  run,  target  practice  took  place  at  Fort  Greble,  near 
the  mouth  of  Narragansett  Bay.  The  firing  of  the 
heavy  guns  is  beheved  to  have  frightened  the  fish 
away,  although  it  has  not  been  positively  decided  that 
firing  actually  afi"ects  the  run. 


234 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Flatfish  and  flounders. — These  are  important  food 
fishes  and  the  total  value  of  the  catch  shows  an  in- 
crease for  each  yeai',  as  indicated  by  the  following  tabu- 
lar statement;  although  the  quantity  has  fluctuated: 


n.ATnSH  AND 
FLOUKDEB  PKODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908..                                

1,891,000 
1,143.000 
1,135,000 
1,710.000 
530,000 
352,000 

$50,000 

1905 

35,000 

1902 

28,000 

1898 

28,000 

1889 

12,000 

1880 

{') 

1  Not  reported  separately. 

Menhaden. — Owing  to  the  irregular  appearance  of 
this  fish  in  great  numbers  in  coastal  waters  and  the 
adverse  weather  conditions,  there  is  great  variation  in 
the  catch  for  different  years,  as  the  tabular  statement 
in  the  next  column  shows. 


MENHADEN  PRODUCT. 

YEAE. 

Quaniity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

17,942,000 

1,026,000 

471,000 

3,140.000 

112.580,000 

68,694,000 

1905 

3,000 

1902 

1898 

7  600 

1889 

281,000 
222,000 

1880 

The  catch  in  1908  shows  a  heavy  increase  over  that 
in  1898  and  subsequent  years,  although  it  did  not 
reach  the  proportions  attained  in  1889  and  1880. 
Practically  all  of  the  catch  is  consumed  in  the  oil  and 
fertilizer  industries.  The  average  values  are  com- 
paratively steady,  ranging  from  a  minimum  of  $4.84 
per  ton  of  2,000  pounds  for  1898  to  a  maximum  of 
$6.46  in  1880,  the  mean  of  the  averages  being  $5.42 
per  ton,  or  substantially  the  same  as  the  average  for 
1908. 


Table  1.— RHODE  ISLAND— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Pound  nets,  traps, 
and  weirs. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

44,254,000 

81,752,000 

19,406,000 

$388,000 

1,828,000 

$55,000 

10,648,000 

$40,000 

593,000 

$21,000 

241,000 

$5,800 

11,. 538, 000 

$1,242,000 

Fish: 

288,000 

40,000 

2,000 

1,112,000 

5,000 

1,497,000 
149,000 

1,891,000 

415,000 

■      2,300 

214,000 

1,000 

537,000 

379,000 

17,942,000 

15.000 

600 

266,000 

4,616,000 

197,000 

4,500 

534,000 

1,200 

2,427,000 
34,000 

308,000 

458,000 

6,200 

146,000 

1,42,1,000 

162,000 

275,000 

3,500 

'8,504,000 
< 21,000 

»  18,000 
■1.500 
'4,000 

292,000 

4,000 
3,700 

100 
42,000 

300 

42,000 
11,000 
50,000 
11,000 
100 

1,900 

100 

25,000 

9,800 
48,000 

900 

100 

7,800 

158,000 

12,000 

400 

3,600 

100 

72,000 
4,700 

18,000 

17.000 

100 

2,900 

152,000 

39,000 

38,000 

100 

967,000 
1,500 

1,000 
200 
600 

6,600 

i        48,000 
28,000 

700 
2,500 

241,000 
1,100 
1,000 
7.000 
1,000 

3,900 

100 

(') 

200 

100 

Bluefish 

5,000 

500 

0,600 

700 

1,000 

m 

Butterfish 

1,101,000 

42,000 

4,000 

100 

Chogset,  or  cunner 

Cod 

4,000 

200 

514,000 

36,000 

1,050,000 

61,000 

1,S00 

204,000 

1,000 

116,000 

112,000 

7,777,000 

14,000 
2,300 

27,000 

1,700 

100 

1,900 

100 

6,200 

4,100 

22,000 

983,000 

23,000 

Eels 

1.000 
34,000 

100 
900 



113,000 
496,000 

8,200 

76,000 

314,000 

500 

2,200 
7,600 

235,000 

5,600 

14,000 

Haddock 

40,000 

1,800 

Hake 

10,000 

m 

Kln^fish.. 

70,000 
7,000 

2,700 
200 

16,000 

260,000 

9,989,000 

15,000 

1,100 

5,500 

25,000 

900 

334,000 

16,000 

Mackerel,  chub 

175,000 

1,000 

Pickerel 

600 

100 

Pollack 

94,000 

4,616,000 

184,000 

1,200 

534,000 

1,200 

2,326,000 
30,000 

2.500 

158,000 

11,000 

200 

3,000 

lOO 

69,000 
4,200 

172,000 

5,400 

Scup. . 

. 

13,000 

1,200 



Shad 

500 

100 

2,800 

200 

Silver  hake,  orwhlting. 
Smelt 

Squeteaeue,  or  weak- 
•flsh 

14,000 
1,500 

liOO 
200 

62,000 
1,000 

1,400 
200 

26,000 
1,500 

900 
100 

Swordfish 

308,000 
2,500 

18,000 

Tautoc 

272,000 
4,800 

9,000 

m 

171,000 
1,500 

6,900 

9,500 

300 

2,500 

100 

200 

Another... 

Crabs,  hard 

146,000 

1,426,000 

162,000 

275,000 

3,500 

'8,564,000 
'21,000 
■18,000 

«i..5no 

'4,000 

2,900 



152.000 

Clains,  hard  (quahaugs) 

Clams,  soft. . 

.39.000 

3S,nfl0 

100 

Oysters,  market  from  pri- 
vate areas . . . 

967,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 
areas . . 

• 

1,500 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 
areas 

1.000 

Periwinkles 

200 

600 

292,000 

6,600 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes.  8,767,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,008,000;  eel  and  lobster  pots,  1 .670,000  poimds.  valued  at  $163,000: 
harpoons  and  spears,  325,000  pounds,  valued  at  $19,000;  beam  trawls,  496,000  pounds,  valued  at  «H,000;  and  minor  apparatus,  282,000  pounds,  valueil  at  $39,000. 
=  Less  than  $100.  s  1,223,000  bushels.  « 3,000  bushels.  '  2.500  bushels.  ■  100  bushels.  '  500  gallons. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2.— RHODE  ISLAND— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


235 


PEOD0CT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPKCIEfl. 

TOTAL. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 

(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total    . . 

33,903,000 

11,198,000 

13,111,000 

1190,000 

1.227,000 

t35,000 

10,328,000 

133,000 

557,000 

iia.ooo 

63,000 

$1,600 

8,615,000 

$914,000 

Fish: 

32,000 
18,000 

381,000 
3,000 

812,000 

14,000 

1,179,000 

322,000 

48,000 

500 

1,800 

13,000 

100 
23,000 

1,300 

30,000 

8,500 

fiOfl 

32,000 

15.000 

357,000 

500 
1,400 
13,000 

3,200 

300 

000 

100 

Butterflsh 

4,000 

100 

Chogset,  or  dinner 

Cod.     .. 

3,000 

100 

95,000 

3,000 

718,000 

20,000 

Eels 

14,000 
433,000 

1,300 
12,000 

Flatfish  and  flounders  , 

616,000 

15,000 

50.000 
282,000 

1,400 
6,700 

20,000 

400 

■  ■ 

60,000 

1,500 

Haddock 

40,000 

1,800 

Herring     .   . 

48.000 
51,000 

600 
2,400 

438,000  1         21,000 
255,000             .^.400 

36,000 

1,400 

18,000 
255,000 

9,989,000 

i,i66 

6,400 
25,000 

334,000 

16,000 

Menhaden .' 

17,753,000 

134,000 

2,908,000 

90,000 

1,078,000 

1,400 
305,000 
123,000 
105,000 

1,500 

4,000 
18,000 
» 1,300 
•4,800 

'7,814,000 

47,000 
4,100 

98,000 
5,900 

31,000 

200 

18,000 

3,900 

700 

100 

100 

2,200 

300 

600 

878.000 

7,589,000 
29,000 

2,908,000 
89,000 

1,023,000 

1,400 

21,000' 
1,000 

98,000 
5,200 

30,000 

200 

175,000 

1,000 

I'ollack 

104,000 

3,100 

Scup 

7,300 
4,600 

700 
200 

Squeteague,  or  weakfish . 

48,000 

1,000 

3,000 

100 

Swordflsh 

305,000 

18,000 

102.000 
105,000 

3,200 
700 

21,000 

800 

Whiting...   .            

i 

Vll  other 

500 

(') 

1,000 

100 

Crabs,  hard 

4,000 
18,000 
« 1,300 

100 

2,200 

Claras,  hard  (quahaugs) 

1 

•  4,800            600 

Oysters,  market,  from  pri- 
vate areas 

/ 

1 
'7,814,000  1  878.000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public 
areas  . . 

) 
•2,800  1             200 

'  18.000  !          1,000 
53,000                900 

1 

•2,800 
M8,000 

200 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 
areas 

1 

1,000 

Squid 

53,000 

900 

1 

1 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows: 

beam  trawls,  433,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000; 

'  Less  than  $100.  >  200  bushels. 


Dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes,  7,835,000  pounds,  valued  at  $879,000;  harpoons  and  spears,  305,000  pounds,  valued  at  $18,000; 
eel  and  lobster  pots,  37,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,800;  and  minor  apparatus.  8,100  pounds,  valued  at  $900. 

'  oOO  bushels.  »  1,116,000  bushels.  •  400  bushet.  '  2,500  bushels 


236 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  3.— RHODE  ISLAND— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BV— 

SPEaES. 

TOTAL. 

Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weira. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Gill  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus. ' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total         

10,351,000 

$554,000 

0,295,000 

»192,000 

601,000 

$20,000 

320,000 

$6,900 

178,000 

$4,200 

35,000 

$1,900 

2,922,000 

$329,000 

Fish: 

250,000 
22,000 

2,000 
751,000 

2,000 

684,000 
135,000 
712,000 
93,000 
1,800 

169,000 
1,000 
99,000 
124,000 
189,000 

15,000 

COO 

132,000 

1,708,000 

100,000 

3,500 

430,000 

1,200 

1,349,000 

32,000 

2,800 

335,000 

6,200 

142,000 

1,406,000 

•161,000 

•271,000 

•3,500 

•749,000 
'18,000 
•1,500 
•4,000 
240,000 

4.100 
1,900 

100 
29,000 

200 

19,000 
9,200 

19,000 

2.600 

100 

1,300 

100 

4,200 

4,  .500 

900 

900 

100 

3,800 

60,000 

5,900 

4C0 

3,000 

100 

41,000 

4,600 

200 

13,000 

100 

2,800 

150,000 

39,000 

37,000 

100 

89,000 

1,300 

200 

600 

5,700 

15,000 
13,000 

20O 
1,100 

241,000 

500 

1,000 

7,000 

1,000 

3,900 

m 
(') 

200 
100 

1,800 

200 

6,500 

700 

Bullheads 

1,000 

(-) 

744,000 

29,000 

1,000 

100 

Cod 

419,000 
36,000 

434,000 

61,000 

1,800 

159,000 
1,000 
65,000 
112,000 
188,000 

11,000 
2,300 

12,000 

1,700 

100 

1,300 

100 

2,800 

4,100 

900 

265,000 

7,400 

Eels 

1.000 
14,000 

100 
400 

98,000 
63,000 

6,800 

20,000 
32,000 

900 
800 

175,000 

4,000 

1,500 

Haddock 

Hake 

::::::::;;;;...:.. 

10,000 

(') 

Kinefigh 

33,000 
7,000 

1,400 
200 

' 

5,000 

200 

400 

(') 

15,000 

900 

Pickerel 



COO 

100 

Pollack 

65,000 

1,708,000 

95,000 

1,200 

430,000 

1,200 

1,303,000 

28,000 

1.500 
60,000 
5,300 

200 

3,000 

100 

39,000 

4,000 

08,000 

2,300 

5,600 

500 

Shad 

500 

100 

1,800 

200 

Squeteague,  or  weakfish 

9,200 
1,500 

400 
200 

14,000 
1,000 

400 
200 

22,000 
1,500 

800 
100 

SwordjQsh 

2,800 
2,500 

200 

Tautog 

170,000 
4,800 

5,800 

150,000 
1,500 

6,200 

9,500 

300 

2,500 

100 

200 

142,000 
1.406.000 
•161,000 
•271,000 

•3,500 

•749,000 
'18,000 
•1,500 
•4,000 

2,800 

150,000 

39,000 

37,000 

100 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 

89.000 

1,300 

200 

600 

Squid 

240,000 

5,709 

'  Includea apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Eel  and  lobster  pots,  1,633,000  pounds,  valued  at  $159,000;  dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes,  932,000  pounds,  valued  at  $129,000; 
bcamtrawls,  63,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,500;  harpoons  and  sncars,  20,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  and  minor  apparatus,  274,000  pounds,  valued  at  S38,0(X). 

'  Less  than  $100.  »  20,000  bushels.  '  27,000  bushels.  •  400  bushels.  •  107,000  bushels.  '  2,600  bushels.  » 100  bushels.  •  600  gallons. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


237 


SOUTH   CAROLINA. 

The  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  South  Carolina 
in  1908  was  less  than  the  value  reported  for  any  other 
South  Atlantic  state.  Oysters  contributed  nearly  half 
of  the  total  value,  while  shad  was  the  most  valu- 
able species  of  fish  proper.  A  canning  industry  of 
considerable  extent  located  at  Charleston  disposed  of 
a  large  part  of  the  oyster  product,  and  of  small  quan- 
tities of  mullet,  shrimp,  and  clams. 

The  following  statement  presents  a  summary  of  the 
statistics  of  the  fishing  industry  for  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 2,  559 

Capital : 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $92,  000 

Apparatus  of  capture IC,  000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 5,  400 

Value  of  products 288, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — From  the 
tabular  statement  given  below,  which  presents  com- 
parative statistics  for  the  years  for  which  canvasses 
of  the  South  Carolina  fisheries  have  been  made,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  canvass  of  1887  showed  a  decrease  in 
both  quantity  and  value  of  products,  as  compared 
with  the  preceding  canvass,  but  that  each  subsequent 
canvass  has  shown  an  increase  in  tliese  items.  In- 
creases in  the  number  of  persons  employed  and  in  tlie 
capital  invested  in  equipment,  which  took  place 
between  1880  and  1890,  were  followed  by  decreases  in 
1897,  but  increases  were  reported  in  1902  and  1908, 
althougli  the  number  of  persons  employed  in  1908  was 
less  than  the  number  employed  in  1890. 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE 

OK  EQUIPMENT. 

PE0DUCT3. 

YEAK. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 
boats,  in- 
cluding 

outat. 

Appa- 
ratus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,530 

2,178 
1,934 
2,577 
1,255 
964 

11109,000 
82,000 
80,000 
83,000 
69,000 
51,000 

$92,000 
62,000 
50,000 
61,000 
46,000 

m 

SI 6, 000 
19,000 
31,000 
22,000 
13,000 
(=) 

14,104,000 
8,174,000 
5,280,000 
4,945,000 
4,076,000 
6,143,000 

>288,000 

19(12 

263,000 

1897 

210,0011 

1890 

203,000 

1887'  

158,000 

1880 

213,000 

1  Does  not  include  fisheries  above  tidewater.        « Not  reported  separately. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  statistics  as  to  the  persons  employed  in  1908: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fisher- 
men. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Wages. 

Total  . 

2,559 

'1,634 

925 

'185,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

326 
16 

2,188 
29 

46 
2 

1,586 

280 
14 

602 
29 

38,000 
2,100 

42,000 

Shoresmen 

2,600 

All  of  the  slioresmen  were  employed  in  shore  and 
boat  fisheries.  The  independent  fisliermen  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  largely  outnumbered  those 
employing  wage-earners.  The  low  average  amount 
of  wages  paid  indicates  that  a  large  number  of  the 
wage-earners  were  employed  for  only  a  part  of  the 
time. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  value  of  the  equipment  and  the 
amount  of  other  capital  employed,  the  number  and 
tonnage  of  vessels,  and  the  number  of  boats  employed 
in  the  fisheries  of  the  state : 


CLASS  OP  INVESTMENT. 


Total 

Vessels,  including  outfit 

Fishing 

Steam  and  motor 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Transporting 

Steam  and  motor 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

Boats 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Ves.sel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries. . 
Shore  and  accessory  property 
Cash 


'  Exclusive  of  47  proprietors  not  fishing. 

>  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $25. 


EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER  CAPITAL 

1908. 


Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

1114,000 

50,000 
43,000 
8,600 
8,100 

108 

102 

8 

1,079 
1,026 

78 

400 

35,000 
33,000 

94 

948 

1,000 

7,700 
6,200 
5,000 

6 
3 

53 
24 

1,200 

1,400 
42,000 

3 

1,719 

17 

440 

1,256 

6 

29 

5,100 

23,000 

12,000 

2,000 

16,000 

800 

15,000 
3,400 

2.000 

All  the  cash  capital  and  shore  and  accessory  prop- 
erty pertained  to  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  total 
investment  was  therefore  distributed  as  follows:  In 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  $63,000;  in  vessel  fisheries, 
$44,000;  and  in  transporting  vessels,  $7,700. 

The  investment  in  fishing  vessels  and  their  outfits 
and  that  in  boats  were  substantially  the  same.  To- 
gether they  represented  nearly  three-fourths  of  the 
total  capital.  Of  the  investment  in  apparatus  of 
capture,  only  a  small  portion  pertained  to  the  vessel 
fisheries.  The  numbers  of  the  more  important  kinds  of 
apparatus  reported,  all  of  wliich  with  the  exception  of 
one  seine  were  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisher- 
ies, were  as  follows: 

Bow  nets 12 

Cast  nets 281 

Dip  nets 20 

Gill  nets 269 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 26 

Seines 27 

Shrimp  nets 92 

Products,  hy  species.-- Table  1,  on  page  240,  gives 
the  fishery  products  of  the  state,  by  species  and  by 
apparatus  of  capture.  Though  a  large  number  of 
species  are  represented,  oj^sters  contributed  78  per 
cent  of  the  total  weight  and  48  per  cent  of  the  total 
value.  The  value  of  the  catch  of  fish  pro])er  constituted 
43  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products.     Shad  was 


238 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


the  leading  species  of  fish  proper,  and  represented 
one- third  of  the  vahie  of  fish  reported  and  14  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  all  products. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — The  following  tabular 
statement  sliows  the  (Ustribution  of  the  value  of 
products,  according  to  species,  for  the  state  and  for 
each  class  of  fisheries: 


Total 

Fish 

Shad 

Sea  bass 

HuUet 

Whiting 

Saucteague 

Another 

Oysters 

Shrimp  and  prawn 

Clams,  hard 

Another 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 


Total. 


$288,000 


123,000 

41,000 

22,000 

19,000 

17,000 

8,700 

16,000 

137,000 

19,000 

6,300 

3,400 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$08,000 


22,000 


17,000 

2,000 

200 

•  400 
1,800 

40,000 


Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 


$220,000 


101,000 
41,000 

4,400 
17,000 
17,000 

8,300 
13,000 
90,000 
19,000 

6,300 

3,400 


Statistics  of  the  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  of 
the  state,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  are 
given  in  Table  2,  on  page  240.  The  value  of  the 
products  reported  for  these  fisheries  formed  24  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  all  products.  Oysters  contributed 
68  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  vessel  fishery  products, 
and  the  bulk  of  the  fish  catch  consisted  of  sea  bass. 

Statistics  of  the  products  of  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  of  the  state,  by  species  and  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, are  given  in  Table  3,  on  page  241.  This  class  of 
fisheries  contributed  76  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all 
fishery  products,  but  not  quite  so  large  a  percentage  of 
the  total  quantity.  The  value  of  oysters  represented 
41  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  shore  and  boat  prod- 
uct, and  that  of  fish  proper  46  per  cent.  All  crusta- 
ceans and  moUusks,  other  than  oysters,  were  taken  in 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Shad  was  the  leading 
species  of  fish,  and  its  value  formed  considerably  over 
one-tliird  of  the  value  of  the  catch  of  fish  proper. 
The  mullet  product  and  the  whiting  product  were 
practically  equal  in  value. 

Products,  iy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  cUstribution  of  the  value 
of  products,  according  to  apparatus  of  capture  used, 
for  the  state  and  for  each  class  of  fisheries : 


VALUE  OF  PKODUCTS:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPABATUS. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore 
and  t»at 
fisheries. 

Total       

$288,000 

$68,000 

$220,000 

Dredges,  tot^,  etc 

143,000 
59,000 
43,000 
19,000 
10,000 
8,200 

46,000 
19,000 

96,000 

41,000 

43,000 

Cast  nets                                      .         

19,000 

Seines                 

3,300 

13,000 

AU  other                                              

8,200 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  were  used  in  securing  the 
oyster  product  and  most  of  the  unimportant  clam 
product.  To  this  form  of  apparatus  78  per  cent  of  the 
total  quantity  and  50  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
products  are  credited. 

The  value  of  the  products  taken  by  lines  formed 
20  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products  in 
the  state.  Sea  bass  and  whiting,  the  most  important 
species  caught  by  lines,  together  contributed  65  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  lins  catch.  Over  two- 
thirds  of  the  value  of  the  line  catch  was  reported  from 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  In  this  class  of  fisheries 
lines  took  products  valued  at  19  per  cent  of  the  total 
value;  and  in  vessel  fisheries,  where  the  line  catch  con- 
sisted mostly  of  sea  bass,  they  took  products  valued  at 
28  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 

Gill  nets  ranked  third  in  value  of  catch,  contributing 
15  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  fishery  product. 
They  were  used  only  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries; 
the  value  of  the  products  taken  by  these  nets  was 
slightly  greater  than  the  value  of  the  catch  by  lines  in 
this  class  of  fisheries,  the  proportions  which  the  values 
of  the  two  catches  represented  of  the  total  value  of  the 
shore  and  boat  product  being  20  per  cent  and  19  per 
cent,  respectively.  Shad  contributed  92  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  gill-net  catch. 

The  catch  by  cast  nets  supplied  7  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  the  state  product.  Their  use  was  confined  to 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  the  catch  with  this  class 
of  apparatus,  which  consisted  of  shrimp,  prawn,  and 
mullet,  contributing  9  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
products  reported  for  these  fisheries. 

The  value  of  the  product  taken  by  means  of  seines 
represented  6  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  state 
product.  Eighty-five  per  cent  of  the  seine  catch  in 
quantity  consisted  of  mullet,  and  was  taken  chiefly  in 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Oysters. — All  of  the  oysters  reported  were  market 
oysters,  and  the  bulk  of  the  product  was  from  public 
areas,  the  quantity  taken  from  private  areas  forming 
slightly  less  than  6  per  cent  of  the  total.  The  greater 
part  of  the  oyster  product  was  used  by  the  canneries. 
Prices  were  low  in  1908,  the  average  being  less  than  9 
cents  per  bushel,  while  some  fishermen  received  as 
little  as  4  cents. 

The  increase  in  the  j'ield  of  oysters  has  been  steady 
and  rapid  since  1887,  and  is  largely  accountable  for 
the  increase  shown  by  the  total  fishery  product  of  the 
state  since  that  year. 

Though  ranking  among  the  leading  fisherj'  products 
of  the  state  in  1880,  oysters  did  not  outrank  all  other 
kinds  of  products  until  1897,  and  the  canvass  of  1902 
was  the  first  in  which  the  quantity  of  the  jdeld  of  oys- 
ters exceeded  that  of  all  other  species  combined.  The 
quantity  of  the  product  in  1908  was  more  than  two  and 
one-fourth  times  that  in  1902. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


239 


OYSTEE  PRODUCT. 

TIAB. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Amount. 

Averace  per 
bushel 
(cents). 

1908.                                   

1,563,000 

.     690,000 

215,000 

63,000 

38,000 

50,000 

J137,000 
118,000 
45,000 
23,000 
19,000 
20,000 

9 

1902 

17 

1897 

21 

1890 

37 

1887 

60 

1880                                                           

40 

Shad. — Shad  ranked  second  in  importance,  con- 
tributing 14  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  yield 
and  a  third  of  that  of  the  catch  of  fish  proper. 
The  entire  product  was  taken  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries,  and  its  value  composed  19  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  the  total  catch  of  such  fisheries.  These  fish 
were  caught  ahnost  entirely  with  gill  nets.  The  fluc- 
tuations in  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  catch  for  a 
number  of  years  are  shown  in  the  following  tabular 
statement : 


YEAB. 

SHAD  PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

464,000 
434.000 
506;  000 
563,000 
366,000 
208,000 

S41,000 

1902 

21,000 

1897 

28,000 

1890 

41,000 

1887 

23,000 

1880 

12,000 

Sea  bass. — The  catch  of  sea  bass  was  somewhat 
larger  in  quantity  than  that  of  shad,  but  its  value  was 
only  a  little  over  half  as  great.  Though  second  in 
importance  among  the  fish  proper,  sea  bass  furnished 
but  8  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  products  of  the  South 
Carolina  fisheries.  The  value  of  the  sea  bass  taken  in 
the  vessel  fisheries,  however,  constituted  25  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  products  and  77  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  the  fish  proper  reported  for  such  fisheries. 
The  bulk  of  the  product  was  taken  in  the  vessel 
fisheries  with  lines.  The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  statistics  of  the  sea-bass  product  for  those  years 
for  which  figures  are  available : 


SEA-BASS  PRODUCT. 

TIAIl. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

491,000 
710,000 
632,000 
826.000 
8,S9,000 

t22.000 

1902 

27,000 

1897..     .            .            

26,000 

1890 

26,000 

1887 

29,000 

Mullet. — Mullet  represented  7  per  cent  of  the  value 
of  the  total  fishery  product  of  the  state.  Nearly  90 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  catch  was  reported  for  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  over  two-thirds  of  the 
value  represented  product  taken  with  seines.  Of  the 
total  product,  nearly  a  sixth  was  salted.  The  product 
for  1908  shows  a  large  increase  over  that  of  former 
years,  as  is  indicated  by  the  following  tabular  state- 
ment: 


MULLET    PRODUCT. 

TEAS. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

664.000 
139,000 
86,000 
388,000 
300,000 
232,000 

{19,000 

1902..                                                         

3,800 

1897 

1,100 

1890..                                

9,400 

1887 , 

10,000 

1880..                                                         

7,200 

Whiting. — The  catch  of  this  species  had  a  value 
equal  to  6  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  state 
product.  Though  in  quantity  the  catch  of  whiting 
was  less  than  half  as  great  as  that  of  mullet,  in  value  it 
ranked  little  below  the  latter,  as  a  result  of  the  higher 
price  paid  for  whiting  on  the  market.  This  fish  was 
taken  almost  wholly  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries 
and  with  lines.  The  whiting  catch  in  1908  was  con- 
siderably less  than  in  former  years,  as  is  indicated  by 
the  following  tabular  statement : 


WHITmO  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908           .     ...                       .     ...                       

274,000 
606,000 
638,000 
521,000 
618,000 

$17,000 

1902 

30,000 

1897 

28,000 

1890 

21,000 

1887 

19,000 

240 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— SOUTH  CAROLINA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

Cast  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

14.104.000 

»288,0OO 

1,388.000 

159,000 

566.000 

$43,000 

404.000 

$19,000 

567.000 

$16,000 

11,180,000 

$151,000 

Fish: 

7.400 
11.000 
20.000 
85,000 

109,000 

4,700 
40.000 
3,100 
664,000 
4,200 

12,000 

34,000 

491,000 

464,000 

72,000 
20,000 
66,000 
183,000 

5,000 

274,000 

17.000 

2,200 

33,000 

462,000 

12,000 

3  76,000 

<  10,  .331, 000 

s 610. 000 
«100 

300 

300 

400 

2.800 

2,500 

200 

1,000 

300 

19,000 

400 

400 

1,000 

22,000 

41,000 

1,400 

900 

1,800 

8,700 

300 

17,000 

800 

100 

900 
19,000 
2,400 

6,300 

129,000 

S.OOO 

7,400 
6,000 

;9,ooo 

82,000 

107,000 

100 
40,000 

300 

200 

400 

2,700 

2,400 

(') 
1,000 

5,000 

200 

500 
500 

1,000 

700 

(') 

(") 

2.500 
700 

100 

(') 

Drum  (salt-water),  or  chan- 

3,900 

200 

2,900 
81,000 

300 
2,300 

200 

<•) 

Mullet 

1,600 
4,200 

12,000 
33,000 
483,000 

100 
400 

400 

1,000 

21,000 

97,000 

3,800 

■     484,000 

13,000 

Pompano 

700 
8,100 

''^400 

Shad 

449,000 

40,000 

15,000 

1,200 

Shark 

72,000 

19,000 

28,000 

152,000 

2,000 

267,000 

15.000 

2,200 

33,000 

1,400 
900 
800 

7,300 

100 

17,000 

500 

100 

900 

200 

22,000 

6,400 

500 
600 

m 

700 
300 

100 

300 
16.000 
9.400 

500 
6,000 
2,500 

300 
600 

100 
300 
100 

Spot 

15,000 
2,000 

600 

100 

Whiting 

Yellowtail 

All  other 

306,000 

15,000 

34,000 
1,800 

300 
400 

111,000 
10,000 

3  76,000 

•10,331,000 

'610,000 
«100 

3,700 

Terrapin 

1,900 

Olams,  hard 

6.300 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 
areas 

129,000 

Oysters,  market,  Irom  private 

8,000 

(I) 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tones,  etc.,  11,014,000  pounds,  valued  at  $143,000;  .shrimp  nets,  111,000  [wunds,  valued  at  $3,700;  bow  nets,  15,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  dip  nets,  22,000  pounds,  valued  at  ISOO;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  3,900  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  14,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,300. 
2  Less  than  $100.  3  9^500  bushela.  '  1,470,000  bushels.  '87,000  bushels.  «  25  hides. 

Table  2.— SOUTH  CAROLINA— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Total  

4,329,000 

$68,000 

3.820,000 

$46,000 

435,000 

$19,000 

74,000 

$3,300 

Fish: 

Croaker 

2,000 
40,000 
50,000 
12,000 
385,000 

6,000 
5.000 
4,000 
2,000 
2,200 

'3,705,000 
'115,000 

100 

1,000 

2.000 

400 

17,000 

200 
400. 

2,000 

100 

40.000 

1,000 

Mullet 

50,000 

2,000 

12.000 
380,000 

400 
17,000 

Sea  bass 

5,000 

6,000 
5,000 
4.000 
2,000 

200 

Spot 

200 

Squeteague                          

400 

200 
100 
100 

45,000 
1.100 

200 

Yellowtail                                  

100 

All  other 

2,200 

100 

1       3,705,000 
;           115,000 

45.000 
1,100 

1  529,000  bushels. 


s  16,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  3.— SOUTH  CAROLINA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


241 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Oillnets. 

Lines. 

Oast  nets. 

Seines. 

All  otlier  apparatus. ' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total.           

9.776.000 

»220,000 

566.000 

S43.000 

953.000 

$41,000 

404.000 

J19.000 

493.000 

$13,000 

7.300.000 

$104,000 

Fish: 

Bhiefish 

7,400 
11,000 
20,000 
25,000 
83,000 

83,000 

4,700 

3,100 

525.000 

89,000 

4,200 

34,000 

106,000 

464,000 

72,000 

20,000 
00.000 

178.000 
5.000 

270.000 

30O 
300 
400 
800 
2,700 

1,700 

200 

300 

14,000 

3.100 

400 

1,000 

4,400 

41.0(W 

1,400 

900 
l.liOO 
8.300 

300 
17.000 

500 

90O 
19.000 
2,400 

6.300 

83,000 

6,900 

7.400 
6.000 
19,000 
24.000 
82,000 

82,000 
100 

300 
200 
400 
700 
2,700 

1.700 
(') 

5,000 

200 

Catfish 

500 
500 
500 

500 
700 

2.900 
76.000 

5,000 

m 

m 
m 

300 

2,100 

200 

400 
600 

300 

3,900 
200 

200 

(') 

Mullet 

l.fiOO 

100 

97,000 

3.800 

350.000 
84,000 

8.200 
2,900 

Mullet  salted 

4.200 
33,000 
103,000 

400 
1.000 
4,200 

700 
3,100 

(') 
200 



Shad 

449,000 

40,000 

15,000 

1,200 

Shark 

72,000 

19,000 
28,000 

152,000 
2,000 

267.000 
15,000 

33,000 

1,400 

900 
800 
7,300 
100 
17.000 
500 

900 

.■ 1.:;:; 

200 

m 

300 

10.000 

4,400 

500 
2.000 

500 

C=) 
100 
200 
100 
100 

(') 

Spot 

22.000  1             700 
0,400  1            300 
500               100 
600  .        (=) 

15,000 
2,000 

600 

100 

WhiliiiK 

rrnhs  hard                                                   33  000 

1 

Terrapin                                             ii.nmi 

306,000 

l.'J.OOO 

34,000 
1,800 

300 
400 

111,000 
10,000 

»  76,000 

< 6,626, 000 

'496,000 
•100 

3,700 

1,900 
6,300 

'76,000 

•0,626,000 

'496,000 
'100 

Oysters,  marlcet.  from  public 

83,000 

Oysters,  marlcet,  from  private 

1 

6,900 

I 

! 

1 

1 

I  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tones,  etc.,  7,194,000  pounds,  valued  at  $96,000;  shrimp  nets,  111,000  pounds,  valued  at  S3,700;  bow  nets,  15,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,200;  dip  nets,  22,000  pounds,  valued  at  $800;  harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  3,900  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  14,000  pounds,  valued  at$2,300. 
'  Less  than  $100.  »  9,500  bushels.  <  947,000  bushels.  '71,000  bushels.  '  25  hides. 


SOUTH  DAKOTA. 

The  commercial  fisheries  of  South  Dakota,  which 
were  never  very  extensive,  showed  a  decided  decUne 
at  the  canvass  of  1908.  Possibly  as  a  result  of  the 
stringent  laws  which  during  the  past  few  years  have 
restricted  fishing  without  a  permit  in  the  inland 
watt's  to  that  with  hook  and  line,  the  figures  shown  are 
smaller  than  those  for  any  previous  year  for  which 
statistics  are  obtainable.  The  industry  was  pursued 
principally  on  the  Missouri  River,  while  by  permit  and 
under  the  supervision  of  the  game  warden,  fish  were 
taken  from  Lake  Kampeska  and  the  Dakota  River. 
The  principal  statistics  concerning  the  fishing  industry 
of  the  state  are  as  follows : 

Number  of  persons  employed 33 

Capital; 

Boats $400 

Apparatus  of  capture 5(X) 

Shore  and  accessory  property 100 

Value  of  jtroducts 4, 200 

Of  the  33  persons  engaged  in  fishing,  29  were  pro- 
prietors and  independent  fishermen  and  4  were  wage- 
earners,  the  latter  receiving  the  sum  of  $300  for  their 
services.  In  1899  the  number  of  fishermen  reported 
was  72  and  in  1894  the  number  was  121. 
76786°— 11 16 


The  statistics  as  to  equipment  and  other  capital  are 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


CLASS 

OF  INVESTMENT. 

EQTTIPMENT          AND 
OTHEE      CAPIT.U.: 
1908. 

Number. 

Value. 

Total 

$1,000 

Boats 

27 

1 

26 

400 

Motor. . 

100 

300 

600 

49 
2 
2 

27 

Seines 

100 



In  1899  the  investment  in  boats,  as  reported  by  the 
Bureau  of  Fisheries,  was  $600  and  the  investment  in 
apparatus  of  capture  $800.  Thus  there  were  de- 
creases in  investment  between  1899  and  1908  amount- 
ing to  33  per  cent  in  the  case  of  boats  and  38  per  cent 
in  the  case  of  apparatus  of  capture,  these  decreases 
being  in  keeping  with  the  reduction  of  over  one-half 
in  the  number  of  persons  employed. 

In  1899  the  fishery  products  of  the  state  were  re- 
ported as  amounting  to  136,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$6,900.     The  decrease  in  value  of  products  shown  in 


242 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


1908,  as  compared  with  1899,  was  almost  40  per  cent. 
In  1894,  the  only  other  year  for  which  statistics  of  the 
fishery  products  of  this  state  are  available,  the  catch 
amounted  to  417,000  pounds,  valued  at  $13,000.  The 
larger  part  of  the  catch  in  each  of  these  former 
years  was  taken  from  the  Missouri,  Dakota,  Vermilion, 
and  Big  Sioux  Rivers. 


The  products  of  the  state  in  1908  are  shown,  by 
species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  the  following 
table.  The  catch  reported  with  seines  and  pound  nets 
was  confined  to  Lake  Kampeska  and  the  Dakota 
River,  where  such  fishing  was  carried  on  under  the 
supervision  of  the  game  warden. 


SOUTH  DAKOTA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Willow  traps. 

Pound  nets. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

70,000 

$4,200 

36,000 

»1,600 

12,000 

$1,200 

11,000 

81.000 

4,400 

$400 

5,500 

$100 

Catfish 

20,000 
32,000 
12,000 
1,800 
3,200 

2,000 

•    1,200 

700 

100 

100 

11,000 

600 

1,100 

1,100 
(') 
100 

6,700 
1,000 
1,300 
1,800 
200 

700 
100 
100 
100 
100 

2,800 

600 

1,000 

300 

^■\oo 

25,000 
9,000 

1,000 
SOO 

5,000 

100 

Ti^rp,  rjpmiftp .  . 

Sturgeon 

Another 

2,500 

(■) 

500 

(') 

1 

'  Less  than  $100. 


TENNESSEE. 


The  fisheries  of  Tennessee  in  1908  were  of  the  shore 
and  boat  class  only,  and  were  conducted  on  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  and  its  tributary  waters,  comprising 
chiefly  Reelfoot  Lake,  Open  Lake,  and  Hatchee  River; 
and  in  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Rivers.  In  this 
report  the  fisheries  of  the  last  two  rivers  are  considered 
apart  from  the  others.  A  summary  of  the  statistics 
for  Tennessee  for  1908  is  given  in  the  following  tabular 
statement : 

Number  of  persons  employed 427 

Capital: 

Boats $9, 400 

Apparatus  of  capture 27, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 13, 000 

Value  of  products 112, 000 

Comparison  with  -previous  canvasses. — With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  number  of  persons  employed,  every 
item  of  the  data  for  the  fisheries  of  Tennessee  shows  a 
substantial  increase  in  1908,  as  compared  with  prior 
years.  The  following  tabular  statement  presents  com- 
parative statistics  for  those  years  for  which  figures 
are  available: 


Persons 

ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  or  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

TEAE. 

Total. 

Boats. 

Appa- 
ratus of 
capture. 

Quantitv 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

427 
424 
503 

$37,000 
31,000 
24,000 

$9,400 
7,100 
4,900 

$27,000 
24,000 
19,000 

4,500,000 
2,775,000 
2,445,000 

$112,000 
88.000 

1899.      .           

1894 

83,000 

Persons  employed. — The  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi 
River  district  reported  62  per  cent  of  the  total  number 
of  persons  employed  and  those  of  the  Cumberland  and 


Tennessee  Rivers  accounted  for  the  remaining  38  per 
cent.  Only  67  fishermen,  or  16  per  cent  of  the  total 
number  of  persons  engaged  in  the  fisheries  of  the 
state,  were  wage-earners,  the  remainder  being  proprie- 
tors or  independent  fishermen. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  data  con- 
cerning persons  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  Tennessee 
in  1908: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

DISTRICT. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Wage- 
cam- 
ers. 

Wages. 

Total 

427 

>360 

67 

'$12,000 

Mississippi  River  district 

263 
164 

232 
128 

31 
36 

8  100 

4,100 

'  Exclusive  of  four  proprietors  not  fishinp. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $700. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  distribution  of 
the  investment  in  the  fisheries  of  Tennessee  is  shown 
in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


value  of  eouipment  and  other 
capital:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Cumber- 
land and 
Tennessee 
Rivers. 

Total 

$50,000 

$43,000 

$7,500 

9,400 
2,900 
6.400 
27,000 
13,000 
500 

7,100 
2,300 
4.700 
23,000 
12,000 
600 

2,300 
600 

Steam  and  motor 

1.700 

Apparatus  of  capture 

4  400 

800 

Cash 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


248 


The  Mississippi  River  district  is  credited  with  85  per 
cent  of  the  total  investment  in  the  fisheries  of  the 
state.  The  investment  in  this  district  included  75  per 
cent  of  the  total  investment  in  boats  for  the  state,  84 
per  cent  of  that  in  apparatus  of  capture,  93  per  cent 
of  that  in  shore  and  accessory  propert}^,  and  the  total 
amount  of  cash  reported.  The  Mississippi  River  dis- 
trict reported  10  of  the  12  steam  and  motor  boats  and 
218  of  the  387  boats  included  under  the  head  "Row 
and  other." 

The  numbers  of  the  more  important  kinds  of  appa- 
ratus of  capture  used,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception 
of  699  fyke  and  hoop  nets  reported  for  the  Cumberland 
and  Tennessee  Rivers,  were  used  in  the  Mississippi 
River  district,  were  as  follows: 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets 2,  904 

Pound  nets 19 

Seines 8 

Shrimp  trap^ 50 

Spears  and  gigs 63 

Trammel  nets 28 

Products,  by  species. — The  distribution  of  the  fishery 
products  of  the  state,  by  species  and  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  is  shown  in  Table  1,  on  page  244. 

The  most  important  products  in  respect  to  value 
were  buffalo  fish,  catfish,  mussel  shells,  pearls,  and 
slugs,  and  black  bass;  these  products  representing  62 
per  cent,  or  about  five-eighths,  of  the  total  value  of 
products  for  the  state. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — -The  products  of  the 
Mississippi  River  district  and  of  the  Tennessee  and 
Cumberland  Rivers  are  given  in  detail,  by  species  and 
apparatus  of  capture,  in  Tables  2  and  3,  on  page  245. 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the 
value  of  products,  by  species  arranged  in  the  order  of 
value,  for  the  state  and  for  each  district: 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

SPECIEa 

TotaL 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Cumber- 
land and 
Tennessee 
Rivers. 

Total 

$112,000 

$73,000 

$39,000 

Fish...             

97,000 
22,000 
20,000 
13,000 
9,500 
8,200 
7,800 
7,500 
9,200 
14,000 
1,200 

72,000 
19,000 
11,000 
12,000 
2,000 
6,600 
7,600 
7,100 
5,600 

25  000 

3.200 

Catfish                  

8,700 
100 

Drum,  fresh-water 

7  500 

1,000 

Crappie                    

200 

300 

Ail  other                        

3  600 

14,000 

Another                            

1,200 

The  fish  products  proper  amounted  in  the  aggregate 
to  2,330,000  pounds,  or  52  per  cent  of  the  total  weight 
of  all  fishery  products,  and  were  valued  at  $97,000,  or 
87  per  cent  of  the  total  value.  Of  the  total  value  of 
products  reported  for  the  Mississippi  River  district, 
the  value  of  fish  proper  constituted  98  per  cent;  but 
the  proportion  was  only  65  per  cent  in  the  case  of  the 
fisheries  of  the  Cumberland   and  Tennessee   Rivers. 


Practically  all  of  the  black  bass,  crappie,  and  paddle- 
fish,  as  well  as  a  large  part  of  the  buffalo  fish,  catfish, 
and  German  carp,  were  obtained  from  the  Mississippi 
River  district.  The  only  fish  which  was  more  abun- 
dant in  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers  than  in 
the  Mississippi  River  was  the  fresh-water  drum,  the 
product  of  which,  however,  was  less  in  quantity  and 
value  than  the  catfish  product  of  the  first  two  rivers. 
The  mussel-shell  products,  including  pearls  and  slugSj 
contributed  35  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  fishery 
products  of  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Rivers. 

The  combined  catch  of  the  Mississippi  River  and  its 
tributary  waters,  exclusive  of  the  Tennessee  and  Cum- 
berland Rivers,  was  1,993,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$73,000,  while  that  of  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland 
Rivers  was  2,513,000  pounds,  valued  at  $39,000.  The 
value  reported  for  the  former  district  formed  65  per 
cent  of  the  value  of  all  the  fishery  products  of  the 
state. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  in  detail  the 
products  of  the  Reelfoot  Lake  fisheries  in  1908: 


nSHEKY  PRODUCTS  OF 

REELFOOT  lake:  1908. 

SPEuUi^. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,147,000 

$43,000 

Fish ... 

1,142,000 

174,000 

312,000 

174,000 

142,000 

3,000 

144,000 

82,000 

62,000 

49,000 

6,000 

42,000 
12,000 
7,800 
7,000 
5,700 
600 

Buffalo  fish 

Paddleflsh 

Caviar : 

3,500 
2,900 
1,500 

Catfish' 

All  other 

1,000 

1,000 

Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  distribution,  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  of  the  value  of  the  fishery  products  reported 
for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  the  two  districts  into 
which  it  is  divided: 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 


Total. 


Fyke  and  hoop  nets . . . 

Lmes 

Crowfoot  dredges,  etc. . 

Seines , 

Trammel  nets 

Another 


VALUE  OF  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


Total. 


$112,000 


45,000 
32,000 
14,000 
8,700 
7,600 
5,200 


Mississippi 

River 

district. 


$73,000 


31,000 
21,000 


8,700 
7,000 
5,200 


Cumber- 
land and 
Tennessee 
Elvers. 


$39,000 


14,000 
11,000 
14,000 


The  value  of  the  catch-  by  fyke  and  hoop  nets  rep- 
resented 40  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  the  fishery 
products  of  Tennessee.  Lines  ranked  next  in  value 
of  catch,  taking  nearly  all  of  the  black  bass,  the  larger 
part  of  the  catfish,  and  all  of  the  eels.  Crowfoot 
dredges  were  used  exclusively  in  the  mussel-shell  and 
pearl  industries. 


244 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908, 


Principal  species. — ^The  vsilue  of  the  catch  of  buffalo 
fish  formed  20  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery 
products.  The  quantity  of  buffalo  fish  caught  de- 
creased from  862,000  pounds  in  1899  to  704,000  pounds 
in  1908,  or  18  per  cent,  while  the  value  increased  from 
$19,000  to  $22,000,  or  19  per  cent.  Only  15  per  cent 
of  the  value  reported  for  this  fish  is  credited  to  the 
Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Kivers,  much  the  larger 
part  representing  the  value  of  product  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi River  and  its  tributaries. 

Catfish  ranked  second  in  importance,  with  a  value 
but  little  less  than  that  reported  for  buffalo  fish. 
The  catch  of  catfish  decreased  in  quantity  and  in 
value  between  1899  and  1908. 

The  mussel-shell  and  pearl  industry  was  carried  on 
only  on  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Rivers. 
Although  this  branch  of  the  state's  fisheries  was  not 
introduced  into  Tennessee  until  after  1899,  it  has 
developed  rapidly,  the  product  for  1908  amounting  to 
2,170,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000.  Of  the  total 
value,  $9,400  represented  the  value  of  the  mussel  shells 
and  $4,200  that  of  the  pearls  and  slugs. 


The  catch  of  black  bass  increased  from  142,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $8,700,  in  1899,  to  177,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $13,000,  in  1908.  Practically  all  of  this 
product  in  1908,  174,000  pounds,  was  caught  in  Reel- 
foot  Lake. 

Of  the  fresh-water  drum  reported,  50  per  cent  of 
the  total  weight  and  79  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
were  credited  to  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee 
Rivers.  This  species  shows  a  large  decrease  in  quan- 
tity and  a  small  decrease  in  value,  the  catch  in 
1899  being  311,000  pounds,  valued  at  $11,000,  and 
that  in  1908  amounting  to  204,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$9,500. 

The  German-carp  product  increased  in  quantity  and 
value  between  1899  and  1908  in  Tennessee,  as  in  most 
of  the  other  states  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  A  large 
quantity,  representing  91  per  cent  of  the  weight  and 
80  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  German  carp  reported 
for  this  state,  was  caught  in  the  Mississippi  River  dis- 
trict. The  catch  of  crappie  has  also  increased  in  quan- 
tity and  in  value  while  that  of  paddlefish  has  decreased 
in  quantity  but  increased  in  value  since  1899. 


Table  1.— TENNESSEE— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

sPEcrea. 

TOTAL. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Trammel  net^ 

Spears  and  gigs. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Viilue. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

4,506.000 

$112,000 

1,159,000 

545,000 

540,000 

$32,000 

223,000 

$8,700 

275,000 

$7,600 

54.000 

$2,600 

2,246,000 

$16,000 

Fish: 

177,000 
148,000 
704,000 
237,000 
367,000 

186,000 

204,000 

3,100 

2,800 

195,000 

5,000 
100 

2,900 
11,000 

3,200 

09,000 
13,000 

5,000 

1,700 

2,170,000 

13,000 
3,700 

22,000 
8,200 

20,000 

7,800 

9,500 

100 

100 

7,500 

300 

m 

300 
400 

700 

3,200 
300 

1,000 

200 

9,400 

4,200 

9.800 
132,000 
356,000 
149,000 
105,000 

164,000 
142,000 

700 
3.300 
12.000 
5,300 
6,100 

6,800 
6,300 

158,000 

700 

39,000 

27,000 

241,000 

2,200 

61,000 

3,100 

600 

11,000 

1.900 

1,200 

13,000 

200 

3,100 

100 

m 

200 
700 

46,000 
7,200 

10,000 

6,700 
7,200 

1,300 
200 
500 

300 
100 

9,000 

7,400 

207,000 

32,000 

1,600 

1,000 
1,100 

700 
200 
5,400 
900 
100 

100 

m 

100 
7,. 300 
24,000 
6, 100 
6,100 

12,000 
2,600 

{^) 

Bream,  or  sunfish 

100 

31,000 
15,000 
2,700 

800 
4(XI 
100 

600 

Carp,  German. 

200 

Catfish 

200 

500 

(') 

Eels 

2,200 
34,000 

2,200 
100 

800 
2,700 

20O 

45,000 
11,000 

100 
1,000 

100 

m 

100 
100 

100 

2,400 
300 

Paddlefish 

138,000 
2,800 

5,600 
100 

2,000 

100 

7,100 

300 

14,000 

600 

Pike 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed 
pike) 

2,100 
8,400 

200 
300 

Sturgeon,  shovelnose 

Caviar  and  paddlefish 

2,600 
1,100 

600 

200 
2,100 

300 

1,100 
000 

100 

Suckers 

6,900 

500 

13,000 
600 

300 

(') 

(2) 

5,000 

1,000 

1,700 
2,170,000 

200 

.. 

9,400 

1 

4,200 

1 

i 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowloot  dredges,  etc.,  2,170,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000;  pound  nets,  74,000  pounds,  valued  at  12,400;  and  shrimp  traps, 
1,700  pounds,  valued  at  $200. 
'  Less  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2.— TENNESSEE— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:  1908. 


245 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPEaE.S. 

TOTAL. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Trammel  nets. 

Spears  and  gigs. 

Pound  nets.! 

Quantity 

(imunds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,993,000 

173,000 

961,000 

S31,000 

395,000 

$21,000 

223,000 

$8,700 

275,000 

$7,600 

64,000 

$2,600 

76,000 

$2,500 

Kish: 

176,000 
148,000 
682,000 
215,000 
263,000 

184,000 
102,000 

2,600 
190,000 

.5,000 

100 
2,600 
3,200 
21,000 
13,000 

5,000 
1,700 

12,000 
3,700 

19,000 
6,600 

11,000 

7,600 
2,000 

100 
7,100 

300 

P> 
100 
700 
400 
300 

1,000 
200 

9,700 
132,000 
331,000 
137,000 
62,000 

163,000 
79,000 

700 
3,.'«X) 
10,000 
4,500 
2,400 

6,700 
1,600 

157,000 

500 

22,000 

17,000 

180,000 

600 
12,000 
2,600 

11,000 

(') 

600 

500 

8,000 

^'ioo 

100 

200 
700 

46,000 
7,200 

10,000 

6,700 
7,200 

(=) 

1,300 
200 
600 

300 
100 

9,000 
7,400 
207,000 
32,000 
1,600 

1,000 
1,100 

700 
200 
6,400 
900 
100 

100 

m 

100 

7,300 

24,000 

0,100 

6,100 

12,000 
2,600 

(') 

100 

Buffalo  fi'ih 

31,000 
15,000 
2,700 

800 
400 
100 

60O 

Carp.  (tcniiEui. . 

200 

Catnsh 

200 

Grapple 

600 

(') 

Eels 

Paddlefisn 

29,000 
2,200 

100 

700 
100 

138,000 
2,800 

5,600 
100 

2,000 

100 

7,100 

300 

14,000 

600 

Pike 

Sturgeon,  sliovelnosf 

Caviar  and  paddlefisli  eggs 

2,600 

100 

200 
4,400 
11,000 

100 

100 
300 

2,600 
1,100 

600 

200 
2,100 

m 

(.4 

300 

1.100 

600 

100 

13,000 
600 

300 

(' 

White  bass  and  rock  bass. 

0 

6,000 

1,000 

1,700 

200* 

1  Includes  shrimp  traps,  with  catch  of  1,700  pounds,  valued  at  $200.  »  Less  than  $100. 

Table  3.— TENNESSEE— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  CUMBERLAND  AND  TENNESSEE  RIVERS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECTE.S. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Lines. 

Crowfoot  dredges,  etc 

■ 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

2,513,000 

$39,000 

198,000 

$14,000 

145,000 

$11,000 

2,170,000 

$14,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

1,100 

42,000 

23,000 

104,000 

2,300 

102,000 
2,800 
6,800 
2,900 
8,500 

48,000 
800 

2,170,000 

100 
3,200 
1,600 
8,700 

200 

7,600 
100 
30O 
300 
400 

2,800 
100 

9,400 
4,200 

100 
25,000 
13,000 
43,000 

700 

64,000 

2,200 

5,800 

800 

2,700 

41,000 

(■) 

1,900 

900 

3,700 

100 

4,700 
100 
300 
100 
100 

2,300 

1,000 
17,000 
10,000 
61,000 

1,600 

39,000 
600 

100 
1,300 

700 
6,000 

200 

2,900 

Buffalo  fish 

Carp,  German 

Catfish 

Crappie 

Paddlpfish 

2,100 
8,800 

6,900 
800 

200 
200 

500 
100 

Sturgeon,  shovelnose 

All  other 

Mussel  shells  .... 

2,170,000 

9,400 
4,200 



1  Less  than  $100. 


TEXAS. 

Although  Texas  has  an  extensive  coast  line,  its  fish- 
ery product  in  1908  was  smaller  than  that  of  any  other 
Gulf  state  except  Alabama.  The  principal  fishing 
grounds  were  Galveston,  Corpus  Christi,  Aransas,  and 
Matagorda  Bays,  and  Sabine  Lake.  Oystere,  red 
snapper,  and  squeteague  composed  two-thirds  of  the 
fishery  product.  The  principal  statistics  for  1908  are 
summarized  in  the  following  statement: 

Number  of  persons  employed 1,  780 

Capital : 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $387, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 41,  000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 26, 000 

Value  of  products , 446, 000 

Corrfparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  canvass 
of  1908  reveals  large  increases  over  1902  and  previous 


years  in  all  features  of  the  industry.  Except  for  the 
fact  that  the  canvass  of  1897  showed  a  slight  decrease 
in  nearly  every  item,  as  compared  with  that  of  1890, 
the  upward  movement  has  been  continuous  during  the 
years  for  which  statistics  are  available.  Comparative 
statistics  for  these  years  are  as  follows : 


Persons 
employed, 
e.xelusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OP  EQUIPMENT. 

PRODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

.\l)pil- 
rut  us  of 
capture. 

Quanlity 
(pounds). 

Value, 

1908 

1,720 
1,055 
1,140 
1,116 
901 

S428.000 
212,000 
152.000 
155,000 
120,000 

$.387,000 
192,000 
130,000 
131.000 
10.5,000 

$41,000 
20,000 
23,000 
24.000 
21,000 

10,439,000 
8.044,000 
7,175,000 
7,959,000 
6,282,000 

$446,000 
3,54,000 

1902. 

1897 

1890.    ... 

314,000 
256,000 

1887 

246 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Persons  employed. — The  following  tabular  statement 
gives  the  distribution  of  the  persons  employed  in  the 
fisheries  of  Texas  in  1908,  and  of  the  wages  and  sal- 
aries paid: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 

inde- 
pendent 
fislier- 
men. 

Sala- 
ried 
em- 
ployees. 

Wage- 
earn- 
ers. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

1,780 

'1,063 

5 

712 

J190,000 

$7,100 

'$183,000 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore    and    boat 
fisheries 

»407 

1,313 
60 

163 
900 

5 

239 

413 

60 

71,000 

110,000 
9,500 

7,100 

64,000 
110.000 

9,500 

'  Exclusive  of  two  proprietors  not  fishing. 

'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $41,000. 

•  Includes  three  persons  employed  on  a  vessel  engaged  in  transporting. 

Of  the  shoresmen,  37  were  employed  in  the  vessel 
•fisheries  and  the  remaining  23  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  total  number  of  persons  connected 
with  the  vessel  fisheries,  therefore,  was  444,  and  the 
total  number  connected  with  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries 1,336.  It  is  apparent  that  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  more  than  one-half  of  those  classed  as  ' '  Pro- 
prietors and  independent  fishermen  "  were  independent 
fishermen. 

Equipment  avd  other  capital. — In  the  following  tab- 
ular statement  statistics  are  given  as  to  the  equipment 
and  the  other  capital  employed  in  the  fisheries  of 
Texas : 


CL.\SS  OF  INVESTMENT. 


Total . 


Vessels  (fishing),  including  outfit . 

Steam  and  motor  ' 

Vessels 

Outfit 

Sail 

Ves.'^els 

Outfit 

other 

Boats 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Other 

Apparatus  of  capture 

Vessel  fisheries 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shore  and  accessory  property 

Cash 


EQUIPMENT    AND    OTHER    CAPITAL: 

1908. 


Value. 

Number. 

Tonnage. 

$454,000 

269,000 

47,000 

39,000 

8,300 

222,000 

181,000 

41,000 

900 

117,000 

39,000 

70,000 

7,300 

1,100 

41,000 

7,100 

34,000 

7,400 

19.000 

157 
48 

1,538 
349 

73 

1,189 

36 
991 

97 
268 

m* 

32 

'  Includes  one  vessel  of  six  tons  engaged  in  transporting. 

Of  the  total  investment  in  the  Texas  fisheries,  the 
value  of  the  various  kinds  of  craft,  including  the  out- 
fits, formed  85  per  cent,  and  of  this  portion  over  two- 
thirds  represented  the  value  of  vessels.  The  value 
of  the  apparatus  of  capture  used  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  was  nearly  five  times  as  great  as  that  of  the 
apparatus  used  in  the  vessel  fisheries.  Of  the  invest- 
ment in  shore  and  accessory  property,  $4,000  was 
reported  for  the  A'essel  fisheries  and  $3,500  for  the 


shore  and  boat  fisheries,  while  practically  all  the  cash 
was  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  total  invest- 
ment in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  was  $155,000,  and 
that  in  the  vessel  fisheries  $299,000.  Nets  and  seines 
were  the  most  important  form  of  apparatus.  The 
numbers  of  the  more  important  kinds  of  apparatus 
reported,  all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  38  seines, 
were  used  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  were  as  fol- 
lows: 

Caat  nets '....  332 

Dip  nets 69 

Firearms,  guns,  etc 137 

Fyke  nets 455 

Gill  nets 219 

Mink  traps 30 

Seines 298 

Trammel  nets 

Turtle  nets 


19 

1 

Products,  hy  species. — Table  1 ,  on  page  249,  gives  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state,  by  species  and  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture.  A  large  variety  of  species  are 
represented  in  the  catch  of  this  state,  chief  among 
which  are  oysters,  red  snapper,  squeteague,  and  chan- 
nel bass,  or  redfish.  These  products  together  con- 
tributed 75  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery  products 
taken  in  the  state,  oysters  alone  representing  38  per 
cent  of  the  value.  The  only  species  in  the  catch  of 
which  Texas  led  all  other  states  was  jewfish. 

Products,  hy  class  of  fisheries. — Table  2,  on  page  250, 
gives  the  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries,  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  while  Table  3,  on  page 
250,  gives  similar  statistics  for  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the 
distribution,  by  species,  of  the  total  value  of  products 
for  the  fisheries  of  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  each 
class  of  fisheries.  Only  products  for  which  a  total 
value  in  excess  of  $5,000  was  reported  are  shown 
separately. 


Total. 


FUh 

Red  snapper 

Squeteague 

Channel  bass,  or  redfish. 

Catfish 

Sheepshead 

Pike 

Drum,  salt-water 

Buffalo  fish 

Croaker 

Flounders 

Another 

Oysters,  market 

All  other 


VALUE  OP  products:  1908. 


Total.    ■ 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

$446,000 

$161,000 

$285,000 

265,000 

97,000 

168,000 

79,000 

79,000 

46,000 

5,400 

41,000 

43,000 

5,300 

38,000 

26,000 

600 

26,000 

14,000 

2,200 

12,000 

11,000 

700 

10,000 

9,300 

1,200 

8,100 

7,400 

100 

7,400 

7,000 

800 

6,200 

6,600 

800 

5,800 

15,000 

1,200 

14,000 

167,000 

02,000 

105,000 

14,000 

1,400 

13,000 

The  vessel  fisheries  took  products  wliich  represented 
36  per  cent  of  the  value  and  a  slightly  larger  percent- 
age of  the  weight  of  the  total  fishery  product.  The 
red  snapper  ranked  first  in  value  among  the  products 
of  the  vessel  fisheries,  its  value  forming  49  per  cent 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


247 


of  the  total  value  of  products  of  this  class  of  fisheries, 
while  market  oysters  ranked  second,  contributing  39 
per  cent  of  the  total. 

The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  contributed  64  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  product  of  the 
state  and  62  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity.  With  the 
exception  of  red  snapper,  every  species  which  entered 
into  the  state  product  was  included  in  the  catch  of 
this  branch  of  the  fisheries.  Oysters  were  the  leading 
species,  their  value  forming  37  per  cent  of  the  value 
of  all  shore  and  boat  products.  Squeteague,  channel 
bass,  and  catfish  were  the  leading  species  of  fish  proper 
reported  by  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  com- 
prised 36  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  furnished  37 
per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  product  of  this  class 
of  fisheries.  The  remainder  of  the  product  is  evenly 
distributed. 

Products,  hy  apparaMs  of  capture. — The  distribution 
by  apparatus  of  capture  of  the  value  of  the  products 
for  tlie  state  as  a  whole  and  for  each  class  of  fisheries 
is  shown  in  the  following  tabular  statement : 


VALUE  or  PBODUCTS:  1908. 

KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$446,000 

$161,000 

$285,000 

167,000 

153,000 

101,000 

7,000 

18,000 

63,000 
18,000 
80,000 

105.000 

Seines                 .                .          .          .          . 

135,000 

21,000 

Gill  nets 

7,000 

All  other 

200 

17,000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  were  used  exclusively  in  the 
oyster  industry.  Though  ranking  first  with  respect 
to  value  of  catch  in  the  state  as  a  whole,  contributiug 
37  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products,  this  class  of 
apparatus  ranked  second  in  importance  for  each  class 
of  fisheries,  being  surpassed  in  the  vessel  fisheries  by 
lines  and  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  by  seines.  The 
products  taken  with  seines,  which  represented  34  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  for  the  state,  in- 
cluded almost  every  species  taken.  The  value  of 
squeteague  and  channel  bass  constituted  over  one- 
half  of  the  total  value  of  the  seine  catch.  The  value 
of  the  catch  by  lines,  which  ranked  third  in  importance, 
formed  23  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery 
products  of  the  state.  Practically  all  of  the  catch  in 
the  vessel  fisheries  was  made  by  fines,  dredges,  tongs, 
etc.,  and  seines.  The  value  of  the  line  catch,  which 
consisted  chiefly  of  red  snapper,  formed  50  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  products  for  this  class  of  fisheries; 
that  of  the  catch  with  dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  39  per  cent; 
and  that  of  the  seine  catch,  1 1  per  cent.  In  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  the  value  of  the  catch  with  seines 
represented  47  per  cent,  and  the  value  of  the  catch  with 
dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  37  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
the  catoh.  Lines  ranked  third  in  this  class  of  fisheries, 
half  of  the  catch  with  this  form  of  apparatus  being  com- 
posed of  catfish. 


Oysters. — The  yield  of  market  oysters  aggregated 
490,000  bushels,  with  a  value  of  $167,000.  Of  the  total 
quantity,  63  per  cent  was  reported  for  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  and  37  per  cent  for  the  vessel  fisheries. 
The  bulk  of  the  catch  was  from  public  areas,  only  3,400 
bushels,  valued  at  SI, 200,  being  from  private  areas. 
The  entire  product  reported  from  private  areas  was 
credited  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  seed 
oyster  product  was  small,  5,700  bushels,  valued  at 
$400,  being  taken  from  pubhc  areas  in  the  vessel 
fisheries,  and  1,800  bushels,  valued  at  $200,  from  pub-' 
lie  areas  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  The  value  of 
the  oyster  product  formed  about  the  same  proportion 
of  the  total  value  of  products  in  the  two  classes  of 
fisheries,  the  percentages  being  37  for  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  and  39  for  the  vessel  fisheries.  The  aver- 
age price  per  bushel  for  market  oysters  was  34  cents. 
The  oyster  product  for  a  series  of  years  is  shown  in  the 
following  tabular  statement : 


OTSTEB  PEODUCT. 

TEAS. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908 

497,000 
343,000 
356,000 
441,000 
256,000 
96,000 

$168,000 

1902.. 

100,000 
95,000 

128,000 
88,000 

1897 

1890 

1887 

1880 

47,000 

The  increase  in  the  oyster  yield  accounts  for  a  large 
part  of  the  gain  made  by  the  fisheries  of  the  state  since 
1902  and  during  previous  years.  The  variations  in  the 
fishery  products,  which  are  shown  in  the  tabular  state- 
ment on  page  245,  conform  in  general  to  the  fluctua- 
tions in  the  oyster  product. 

Red  snapper. — The  value  of  the  red-snapper  catch 
formed  nearly  30  per  cent  of  that  of  all  fish  proper, 
while  the  weight  formed  34  per  cent  of  the  total  weight. 
This  species  was  taken  entirely  with  lines  and  wholly 
in  the  vessel  fisheries.  Its  value  formed  49  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  entire  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries 
and  81  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fish  proper  taken  in 
these  fisheries.  The  growth  of  the  red-snapper  fishery 
since  1890  has  been  remarkable.  In  1902  the  value 
of  the  catch  exceeded  that  of  oysters,  but  an  increase 
in  yield  has  been  accompanied  by  a  decrease  in  value, 
wliile  in  the  case  of  oysters  the  value  increased  at  a 
higher  rata  than  the  quantity.  The  following  tabu- 
lar statement  gives  statistics  of  the  catch  for  those 
years  for  wliich  figures  are  available: 


KED-SNAPPEB 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

2,252,000 

2,068,000 

465,000 

4,800 

75,000 

$79  000 

1902 

103,000 
17  000 

1897..         ..                

1890 

1887 

4,100 

248 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Salt-water  drum. — Salt-water  drum,  channel  bass, 
or  redfish,  represented  12  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the 
total  product,  4  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  vessel 
product,  and  16  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  shore  and 
boat  product.  Of  the  total  quantity,  92  per  cent  was 
from  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Seines  took  93  per  cent 
of  the  product,  and  over  one-half  of  the  remainder  was 
taken  with  lines.  Although  the  catch  of  this  product 
in  1908  was  the  largest  ever  reported,  the  value 
was  the  same  as  in  1897,  as  the  following  tabular 
statement  shows: 


TEAR. 

SALT-WATER      DRUM, 
CHANNEL  BASS,  OR 
REDFISH    PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908                                           .            

1,309,000 
1,060,000 
1,144,000 
1.112,000 
1,005,000 

$52,000 

1902 

43,000 

1897                                                        

52,000 

1890 

48,000 

1887.                     

38,000 

Squeteague. — The  value  of  squeteague,  or  sea  trout, 
formed  10  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  fishery  products. 
Though  ranking  fourth  in  value  among  the  products 
in  the  vessel  fisheries,  the  species  represented  only  3 
per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  of  this  class  of 
fisheries.  In  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  the  value  of 
this  fish  formed  14  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  products 
and  ranked  first  among  fish  proper.  Of  the  total 
squeteague  catch,  90  per  cent  was  reported  for  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Seines  are  credited  with  92 
per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  lines  with  three- 


fiftlis  of  the  remainder.  The  catch  of  this  fish  has 
been  fairly  constant  for  the  several  years  for  which 
statistics  are  available,  as  will  appear  from  the  fol- 
lowing tabular  statement : 


SQUETEAGUE 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 '. 

1,055,000 
1,119,000 
1,012,000 
1,120,000 
941,000 

8)0,000 

1902 

60,  (KX) 

1897 

4(i.  000 

1890 

48, 000 

1887 

38,000 

Catfish. — The  value  of  catfish  constituted  6  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  the  products  of  the  Texas  fisheries. 
This  species  was  caught  almost  entirely  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  and  the  value  of  the  catch  com- 
prised 9  per  cent  of  the  value  of  products  for  this  class 
of  fisheries.  Something  less  than  one-half  of  the 
product  was  taken  with  seines,  while  the  remainder 
was  taken  chiefly  with  lines.  The  catch  of  catfish 
shows  a  large  increase  since  1902,  as  will  be  seen  from 
the  following  tabular  statement : 


CATFISH  PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

190S 

500,000 
76,000 
71.000 
45,000 
47,000 

J26.000 

1902..                

3,200 

1897 

3.  (XX) 

1890   .                 

2.100 

1887 

2,500 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  1.— TEXAS— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


249 


■ 

TOTAL. 

PKODUCT  CADOHT   BY  — 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

GiU  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Cast  nets. 

All  other 
ratus 

appa- 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total                

10,439,000 

$446,000 

3,655,000 

$153,000 

2,712,000 

$101,000 

151,000 

$7,000 

79,000 

$4,000 

87,000 

$3,200 

3.755,000 

$178,000 

Fish: 

17,000 
9,700 

240,000 
2,200 

560,000 

40,000 

19,000 

159,000 

13,000 

1,309,000 
140,000 
40,000 
20,000 

33,000 

1,800 
2,600 

306.000 
18,000 

298,000 

2,252,000 

42,000 

1,056,000 

700 

9.900 

4,900 

199,000 
600 

118,000 
15.000 
20,000 

•3,404,000 

6  24.000 

« 62,000 

'7.000 

1,200 

500 

7,4(X) 

100 

20,000 

'2.800 

800 

7,000 

700 

52,000 

6.  COO 

1.300 

900 

1,500 

100 
100 

11,000 
1.100 

14.000 

79,000 
3,400 

46,000 
100 
500 
200 

4,800 
200 
4,400 
1,600 
1,000 

166,000 

1,200 

600 

1,400 

m  ■ 

1,500 
9,700 

131,000 
400 

259,000 

25,000 

18,000 

152,000 

6,000 

1,215,000 

106,000 

8,800 

17,000 

21,000 

1,100 
2,000 

304,000 
17.000 

271,000 

200 

500 

4.  IOO 

(») 

12,000 

1,800 
800 

6,(00 
400 

48,000 

4,700 

300 

800 

1,100 

100 
100 

11,000 
1,000 

13,000 

5,000 

400 

5,200 

400 

6,000 

400 

liiitTalo  fish 

32.000 

1.300 

219,000 

2,100 

300 

2,700 

2,600 

51,000 

COO 

37,000 

1,300 

100 

11,000 

200 
(') 
200 
100 

2,600 

(») 

1,100 

15,000 

600 

21,000 

400 

17,000 

13,000 

600 
900 

41,000 

1,100 

35,000 

1,700 

29,000 

1,400 

Crevall6 

100 
3,800 
3,000 

33,000 
2,600 

(?) 
200 
20O 

1,300 
100 

500 
70O 

11,000 
70O 

700 
(') 

100 

(•) 

1,000 
30,000 

(•) 

Drum,   salt-water  (channel 

(') 

300 

(•) 

1,700 

Jewflsh 

Mullet 

3,000 
12,000 

200 
400 

500 

m 

Paddlefish,  caviar,  and  pad- 

700 
400 
200 
100 
15,000 

2,252,000 
24,000 
52,000 

79,000 
1,800 
2,700 

100 

Pigfish . .                    ... 

Pike 

1,400 

600 

6,500 

100 
(») 
300 

2,500 

'•ioo 

1,800 

100 

200 

m 

18,000 

968,000 

700 

6,500 

4,400 

17,000 

m 

42,000 
15.000 
19,000 

1,400 

42,000 

100 

300 

100 

400 

m 

1.600 

1.400 

900 

900 
28,000 

100 

1,400 

300 
6,500 

400 

C^) 

(') 

Strawberry  bass 

Whiting 

3,300 
200 

11,000 
IOO 

200 
(») 

300 
100 
(•) 

ioo 

(») 

7,100 
(") 
77,000 

(») 
(«) 

200 

(«) 
2,800 

All  other 

200 

m 

100 

164,000 
500 

{'} 

Crabs,  hard 

3.900 

100 

(') 

m 

400 
600 

'3,404,000 

6  24,000 

•52.000 

'7.000 

(») 

200 

500 

m 

(') 

Oysters,   marlcet,    from   public 

106.000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 

1,200 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. . 

600 

0) 

m 

1.400 

(^Irins,  TTlinU-  8 

(') 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc..  3.468,000  pounds,  valued  at  $167,000;  dip  nets,  164.000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,000;  fyke,  hoop,  and 
turtle  nets.  73.000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,600;  harpoons,  spears,  etc..  31,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,700;  firearms,  6,900  pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  and  minor  apparatus,  13,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $800. 

«  Less  than  $100.  »  Less  than  100  pounds.  '  486  000  bushels.  »  3,400  bushels.  «  7,600  buah«ls.  '  1,400  hides.  «  30  skins. 


250 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— TEXAS— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


Total 

Fish: 

Buffalo  fish 

CatQsh 

Channel  bass,  or  redflsh 

Croaker 

Drum,  salt-water 

Flounders 

Jewflsh 

Mullet 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike 

Pompano 

Sheepshead 

Snapper,  red 

Spanish  mackerel 

Squeteague 

Whiting 

AU  other 

Crabs,  hard 

Shrimj) 

Terrapin 

Turtles 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas 

Hides,  alligator  • 

1  Less  than  $100. 

Table  3 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


3,945,000     tl61,000 


Value. 


1,800 
14,000 
68,000 
16,000 
36,000 

17,000 

29,000 

1,300 

1,100 

16,000 

3,900 

47,000 

2,252,000 

2,100 

107,000 

2,300 

300 

7,400 
7,900 
4,000 

2,000 

>  1,269, 000 

» 40,000 

100 


100 
600 

5,300 
800 

1,209 

800 
600 
100 
100 

700 

300 

2,200 

79,000 

200 
6,400 

100 
(') 

200 
400 
300 

100 

62,000 

400 

(') 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY- 


Lines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


2,297,000 


600 
4,300 


400 

100 
29,000 


200 
2,252,000 


3,900 


7,000 


Value. 


$80,000 


(') 


(') 
(') 


79,000 


200 


200 


Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,308,000 


» 1.269,000 
8  40,000 


Value. 


$63,000 


62,000 
400 


Seines. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


335,000 


1,800 
13,000 
64,000 
16,000 
35,000 

12,000 

600 

1,300 

1,100 

16,000 

3,900 

47,000 


2,100 

103,000 

2,300 

300 

400 
7,900 
4,000 

2,000 


(') 


Value, 


$18,000 


100 
600 

5,100 
SOO 

1,200 

600 
(■) 
100 
100 

700 

300 

2,200 


200 
6,200 

100 
(') 

(■) 
400 
300 

100 


(') 


Harpoons,  spears,  etc. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


4,900 


(') 


Value. 


$200 


200 


(') 


1 181,000  bushels.  =  5,700  bushels.  '  Less  tlian  100  pounds. 

—TEXAS— PRODUCTS  OP  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PEODUCT 

CAUQHl 

BY— 

SPEOES. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

Cast  nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.! 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Valne. 

Total 

6,494,000 

$285,000 

3,320,000 

$135,000 

416,000 

$21,000 

151,000 

$7,000 

79,000 

$4,000 

87,000 

$3,200 

2,442,000 

$115,000 

Fish: 

17,000 
9,700 

239,000 
2,200 

546,000 

860,000 
40,000 
19,000 

143,000 
13,000 

345,000 
123,000 
17.000 
19,000 

33,000 

2.600 
289.000 

14.000 
251.000 

40,000 

948,000 

700 

7,600 

5,400 

192,000 
600 

111,000 
11,000 
18,000 

•2,135,000 

» 24.000 

«l:i.000 

'6.900 

P) 

1,200 

500 

7,400 

100 

26,000 

38,000 
2,800 

800 
6,200 

700 

8,100 

5,800 

700 

900 

1,500 

100 
10,000 

800 
12,000 
3,200 

41,000 
100 
400 
200 

4,600 

200 

4,100 

1,300 

900 

104,000 

1,200 

200 

1,400 

m 

1,500 
9,700 

129,000 
400 

246,000 

785,000 
25,000 
18,000 

136,000 
5,700 

330,000 

94,000 

8,200 

15,000 

21,000 

2,000 
288,000 

13,000 
224,000 

16,000 

865,000 

700 

4,200 

4,100 

17,000 
(=) 

34,000 
11,000 
17,000 

200 

600 

4,100 

11% 

34,000 
1,800 

800 
5,900 

400 

7,700 

4,100 

200 

700. 

1,100 

100 
10,000 

800 

10,000 

1,300 

36,000 
100 
200 
100 

400 

m 

1,200 

1.100 

800 

5,000 

400 

6,200 

400 

6,000 

400 

Bluefish 



32,000 

1,300 

218,000 

43,000 
2,100 
300 
2,700 
2,600 

2,900 

500 

8,800 

1,100 

100 

11,000 

2,200 
200 

200 
100 

100 

500 

15,000 

600 

21,000 

400 

17,000 

11.000 
13,000 

600 
(■) 
800 

700 
900 

41,000 

1,100 

f.ftrrij  fiprman  ,  ,  , 

Catfish 

35,000 
21,000 

1,700 
1,100 

29,000 
P) 

1,400 

m 

Crappie 

CrevalM 

100 
3,800 
3,000 

12,000 
2,600 

200 
200 

300 
100 

Croaker.     ... 

600 
700 

m 
p) 

100 

m 

1,000 

(.') 

Drum,  salt-water  . 

700 

p) 

300 

(») 

26,000 

1,400 

Jewfiah 

Mullet 

3,000 
12,000 

200 
400 

500 

m 

Paddlefish,  caviar,  and  paddle- 
fish  ^££8 

Plgfish 

400 

200 

100 

15,000 

24,000 

48,000 

1 

900 
1,800 

2,500 

100 

C) 

Pike... 

1,400 
600 

6,500 
900 

28,000 

100 

(») 
300 
100 

1,400 

m 

2,500 
300 

6,500 

m 

200 
400 

1,800 

100 

200 

{') 

(') 

('■) 

strawberry  bass 

Whiting 

3,;i00 
900 

3,600 
100 

200 
100 

lOO 
100 

100 

7,100 

i') 
77,000 

m 

200 
(=) 
2,800 

All  other 

200 

(=) 

100 

164,000 
600 

(2) 

3,900 

Crabs,  soft 

100 

Terrapin 

(') 

A 

400 
600 

«2,135,000 

'24.000 

»  is;  000 

'6,900 

P) 

200 

Turtles 

500 

m 

(■-) 

Oysters,    market,    from    public 

104,000 

Oysters,    market,    from    private 

1,200 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas 

200 

1 

1.400 

Skins,  mink' 

! 

(n 

1 

1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  2,160,000  pounds,  valued  at  $105,000;  dip  nets,  164,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,000;  fyke,  hoop,  and  turtle 
neta,  73,000  pounds,  valued  a|:  $2,600;  har[)oons,  spears,  etc.,  26,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,500;  firearms,  6,900  pounds,  valued  at  $1,400;  and  minor  apparatus,  13,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $800. 

•  Less  than  $100.  >  Less  than  100  ponnda.  < 305,000  bushels.  M, 800  bushels.  •  3,400  bushels.  '1,400  hides.  •  30  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


251 


VIRQINIA. 

In  the  total  value  of  fishery  products  Virginia  had 
second  place  in  1908  among  the  states  in  which  com- 
mercial fisheries  were  carried  on,  and  in  the  value  of  its 
shad,  menhaden,  alewife,  croaker,  caviar,  sturgeon, 
crab,  and  hard -clam  products  it  ranked  first.  The 
taking  of  oysters  was  the  most  important  branch  of  the 
fishing  industry  of  the  state,  the  product  being  valued 
at  $2,348,000.  The  shad  and  menhaden  products 
ranked  next  in  importance,  each  being  valued  at 
between  four  and  five  hundred  thousand  dollars,  while 
clams  and  crabs  followed  in  rank,  the  product  of  each 
having  a  value  in  excess  of  $300,000.  Though  fish- 
eries are  conducted  at  nearly  every  available  point 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  North  Carolina  to  the 
Maryland  line,  the  most  important  fisheries  of  the 
state  are  in  the  waters  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tribu- 
taries. This  latter  district  covers  an  extensive  area, 
comprising  not  only  the  waters  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  but 
also  Tangier  and  Pocomoke  Sounds  and  the  tidal 
waters  of  the  Potomac,  Wicomico,  Rappahannock, 
York,  and  James  Rivers. 

The  following  statement  gives  a  general  summary  of 
the  statistics  of  the  industry  in  Virginia  in  1908 : 

Number  of  persons  employed 20, 066 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $2, 065, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 485, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 434, 000 

Value  of  products 4, 716, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — Comparative 
statistics  for  years  for  which  figures  are  available  are 
given  in  the  next  tabular  statement. 

In  the  total  value  of  equipment  and  in  the  quantity 
of  products  increases  are  shown  at  each  canvass  from 
1891  to  1904.  The  value  of  the  product  in  1904  was 
76  per  cent  greater  than  that  in  1897.     The  figures  for 


1908,  however,  show  a  decrease  in  every  item  as  com- 
pared with  tiie  figures  for  the  preceding  canvass.  In 
1908  there  were  3,298  fewer  persons  employed,  exclu- 
sive of  shoresmen,  than  in  1904,  a  decrease  of  14  per 
cent.  The  decline  in  the  total  value  of  equipment 
was  $95,000,  or  only  4  per  cent.  The  value  reported 
for  fishing  and  transporting  vessels,  including  outfits, 
decreased  from  $1,502,000  in  1904  to  $1,332,000  in 
1908,  but  as  the  value  of  boats  increased  during 
the  same  years  from  $591,000  in  1904  to  $733,000  m 
1908,  the  total  amount  of  capital  represented  by  ves- 
sels, including  outfits  and  boats,  changed  very  little, 
namely,  from  $2,093,000  in  1904  to  $2,065,000  in  1908, 
The  increase  in  the  number  of  motor  boats  has  been 
marked,  1,066  power  boats  being  reported  in  1908,  as 
compared  with  only  38  in  1904.  The  value  of  appara- 
tus of  capture  decreased  $67,000,  or  12  per  cent,  while 
the  products  showed  a  decrease  from  1904  to  1908  of 
16  per  cent  in  value  and  12  per  cent  in  quantity. 


Persons 

em- 
ployed, 
exclusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

TALUE  OK  EQUIPMENT. 

FBODtrcra. 

YEAE. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and  Iwals, 

]  including 

outfit. 

Appara- 
tus of 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1904 

1897 

1891 

1880 

19,905 
23,203 
24,252 
20,310 
16,051 

I2,550;000 
2,645,000 
1,859,000 
1,763,000 
1,424,000 

J2, 065, 000 
2,093,000 
1,408,000 
1,403,000 
'864,000 

$485,000 
652,000 
451,000 
361,000 

> 561,000 

312,515,000 
355,310,000 
277,994,000 
183,994,000 
158,875,000 

$4,716,000 
5,584,000 
3,179,000 
3,648,000 
3,124,000 

'  Exclusive  of  outfit. 


2  Includes  outfit. 


Persons  employed. — In  1908  the  fisheries  of  Virginia 
gave  employment  to  20,066  persons.  The  number  of 
persons  employed  has  gradually  declined  since  1897, 
when  it  was  larger  than  in  any  other  year  for  which 
statistics  are  available. 

The  following  table  presents  statistics  relating  to 
persons  employed  in  1908: 


PEESON8  employed:  1908. 

DISTBICT  AND  CLASS. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

Total. 

Proprietors 
and  inde- 
pendent 
fishermen. 

Salaried 
employees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total 

20,066 

'10,324 

29 

9,713 

$1,316,000 

$21,000 

'$1,295,000 

3,188 

1,133 

15,684 

161 

639 

343 

9,342 

15 
3 
11 

2,534 
787 

6,231 
161 

455,000 
130,000 
700,000 
32,000 

13,000 
1,600 
6,400 

442,000 
128  000 

Transporting  vessels               ....          

Shoresmen 

32  000 

Chesapealce  Bay  district 

17,416 

8.913 

24 

8,479 

1,149,000 

17,000 

1,132  000 

Vessel  fisheries  .           

2,970 

978 

13,314 

154 

2,650 

487 

294 

8,132 

15 
3 
6 

2,468 
681 

5,176 
154 

1,234 

449,000 
113,000 
557,000 
31,000 

167,000 

13,000 
1,600 
3,000 

436  000 

111.000 

Shoresmen                                              . .      .  .          . .  . 

31  000 

1,411 

5 

3.500 

163,000 

218 

156 

2,270 

7 

152 

49 

1,210 

66 

106 

1,065 

7 

5,600 

17,000 

143,000 

1,100 

6,600 

17,000 

139,000 

1,100 

6 

3.500 

1  Exclusive  of  277  proprietors  not  fishing. 


•  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $145,000. 


252 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Of  the  total  number  of  persons  employed,  78  per 
cent  were  engaged  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and 
22  per  cent  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and  on  transporting 
vessels.  In  the  vessel  fisheries  about  80  per  cent,  and 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  about  40  per  cent,  of  the 
persons  employed  were  wage-earners,  the  proportion 
of  proprietors  and  independent  fishermen  being  smaller 
than  in  most  other  states.  About  87  per  cent  of  all 
persons  reported  were  connected  with  the  fisheries  of 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  district,  while  the  remaining  13 
per  cent  were  engaged  in  the  fisheries  along  the  Atlan- 
tic coast. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  value  of  equipment  and  the 
amount  of  other  capital  invested  in  1908,  for  the  state 
and  for  each  district : 


VALUE   or  EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER 
CAPITAL;   1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Che.sapealie 

Bay 

district. 

Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 

Total 

$2,984,000 

$2,681,000 

$302,000 

Vessels,  includinj  outfit 

1,332,000 
985,000 
761,000 
653,000 
109;000 
223,000 
192,000 

31,000 
347,000 
119,000 
107.000 

12,000 
228.000 
203,000 

23,000 
733.000 
331.000 
276,000 
112,000 

14,000 
485,000 

56,000 
428,000 
301.000 
133,000 

1,247,000 

953,000 

753,000 

644,000 

109,000 

200,000 

172,000 

28,000 

294,000 

93,000 

85,000 

10,000 

199,000 

177,000 

22,000 

632,000 

266,000 

2M,000 

101,000 

1,300 

433,000 

66,000 

378,000 

202,000 

106,000 

85  000 

Fishing 

31,000 

8,500 

8,300 

200 

Outfit 

SaU 

23,000 
19,000 
3,500 
63,000 
25,000 

Vessels. 

Outfit : 

Outfit 

2,000 

SaU 

Vessels . .  . . 

20,000 

2,500 

101  000 

Outfit 

Boats 

65,000 
12,000 
11.000 
13,000 
51,000 

SaU 

Row 

Other. 

Apparatus  of  capture.             

Shore  and  boat  fisheries . . 

51,000 

Cash 

20,000 

About  90  per  cent  of  the  total  investment  is  credited 
to  the  Chesapeake  Bay  district.  The  investment  in 
vessels,  including  outfits  and  boats,  represented  69 
per  cent,  that  in  apparatus  of  capture  16  per  cent, 
and  that  in  shore  and  accessory  property,  together 
with  the  cash  capital  reported,  15  per  cent,  of  the 
total  investment  for  the  state. 

By  far  the  larger  number  of  fishing  and  transport- 
ing vessels  were  sailing  craft,  and  were  employed  in 
the  Chesapeake  Bay  district.  Only  120  vessels  out 
of  the  total  of  946  were  engaged  in  fishing  and  trans- 
porting, and  only  1,984  boats  out  of  the  total  of  10,942 
were  connected  with  the  fisheries  of  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  district.  The  other  vessels  and  boats,  number- 
ing 826  and  8,958,  respectively,  were  employed  in  the 
fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributary  waters. 
While  sailing  vessels  greatly  outnumbered  steam  and 
motor  vessels  in  the  Chesapeake  Bay  district,  the 
latter  class  of  craft  had  a  value  more  than  twice  that 
of  the  former  and  a  tonnage  almost  half  as  great. 
In  the  Atlantic  Ocean  district,  however,  the  sailing 


vessels  represented  a  greater  value  than  the  steam 
and  motor  vessels,  and  their  total  tonnage  was  more 
than  seven  times  that  of  the  steam  and  motor  vessels. 
The  following  tabular  statement  gives  detailed  sta- 
tistics concerning  the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels 
and  the  number  of  boats: 


CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 


Vessels: 

Fishing— 

Numljer 

Tonnage 

Steam  and  motor- 

Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Transporting— 

Number 

Tonnage 

Steam  and  motor- 

Niunber 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Boats,  number 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Eow 

Other 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:  1908. 


Total. 


522 
7,520 

96 
3,559 

426 
3,961 

424 
5,454 

92 

857 

332 
4,597 
10,942 
1,066 
3,611 
5, 3.30 

936 


Chesapeake 

Bay 

district. 


459 
6,984 

93 
3,517 

366 
3,467 

367 


77 
756 

290 
4,052 
8.958 

848 

3,409 

4,630 

71 


Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 


63 
636 


3 
42 


494 

57 
646 

15 

101 

42 

545 
1,984 
218 
202 
700 
864 


The  apparatus  of  capture  reported  for  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  of  Virginia  largely  exceeded  in  value 
that  reported  for  the  vessel  fisheries,  the  investment 
in  the  former  case  being  $428,000  and  in  the  latter 
$56,000.  The  capital  represented  by  this  form  of 
investment  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean  district  was  only 
$51,000,  or  11  per  cent  of  the  total  investment  in 
apparatus  of  capture  for  the  state.  The  number  of 
pound  nets  used  was  1,908  and  the  number  of  seines 
360.  The  latter  were  used  in  both  vessel  and  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  and  in  both  of  the  districts  into 
which  the  fishing  grounds  of  the  state  are  divided. 
The  number  of  gill  nets  reported  was  7,513.  Because 
dredges  are  considered  injurious  to  the  oyster  beds, 
their  use  in  the  pubHc  areas  is  restricted  by  law. 
They  were  therefore  used  comparatively  little  and 
often  only  to  clean  up  the  grounds  which  had  pre- 
vioxisly  been  worked  by  tongs.  The  distribution 
of  the  more  important  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture 
is  shown  in  the  following  table: 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:   1908. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS  OF  FISHERIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Pots. 

round  and 
trap  nets. 

Seines. 

Total 

7,613 

902 

I,9a8 

360 

51 
7,462 

60 
842 

83 
1,826 

44 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries . . . 

316 

Chesapealte  Bay  district 

6,888 

869 

1,805 

158 

Vessel  fisheries 

51 
6,837 

625 

60 
809 

33 

83 
1,782 

43 

43 

Sliore  and  boat  fisheries 

116 

Atlantic  Ocean  district 

202 

1 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries    

025 

33 

43 

201 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


253 


Products,  hy  r/pecics. — The  fishery  products  of  the 
state  for  1908  arc  distributed,  by  species  and  by  appa- 
ratus of  capture,  in  Table  1,  on  page  256. 

The  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  Virginia  formed 
9  ])er  cent  of  the  total  value  of  all  fishery  products  of 
the  United  States.  Oysters  were  the  most  important 
product,  the  value  of  the  yield  in  1908  forming  only  a 
small  fraction  less  than  50  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all 
fishery  products  of  the  state.  Aside  from  certain 
species  of  fish,  clams  and  crabs  were  the  only  other 
important  products.  The  quantity  of  crabs  taken 
was  25,083,000  pounds,  valued  at  $326,000,  and  the 
quantity  of  clams  was  1,969,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$380,000. 

The  product  of  fish  proper  amounted  in  the  aggre- 
gate to  249,890,000  pounds,  or  80  per  cent  of  the  total 
weight  of  fishery  products  of  the  state,  and  was 
valued  at  $1,658,000,  or  35  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 
Including  nine  species  tabulated  under  the  head  "All 
other,"  42  species  of  fish  were  taken  in  the  waters  of 
the  state.  Of  these  the  most  important  were  shad, 
menhaden,  alewives,  squeteague,  or  sea  trout,  and 
croaker.  Tlie  combined  value  reported  for  these 
five  species  was  $1,344,000,  or  81  per  cent  of  tTie  value 
•  of  all  fish  caught. 

Products,  hy  fishing  grounds. — The  products  of  the 
Chesapeake  "Bay  district  are  given  in  detail,  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  in  Table  2,  on  page  257; 
and  Table  3,  on  page  258,  gives  similar  statistics  for 
the  Atlantic  Ocean  district.  In  the  following  tabular 
statement  the  total  value  of  products  is  distributed 
according  to  species  arranged  in  order  of  value,  for  the 
state  as  a  whole  and  for  each  district  and  each  class 
of  fisheries : 


VALUE  OF  products:  1908. 

SPEOES. 

Total. 

Distributed  by 
districts. 

Distributed  by  class 
of  fisheries. 

Chesa- 
peake 
Bav 
district. 

Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore 
and  boat 
fisheries. 

$4,710,000 

$4,040,000 

$070,000 

$1,009,000 

$3,707,000 

Fish 

1,  MS,  000 
480,000 
429,000 

171,000 

139,000 

119,000 

49,000 
40,000 
31,000 

27,000 
25,000 
21,000 
114,000 

2,34S,000 

1,907,000 

381,000 

380,000 

320, 0(X) 

4,500 

1,480,000 
481,000 
429,000 

108,000 

100,000 

84,000 

20,000 
40,000 
28,000 

24,000 
9,100 
17,000 
79,000 

2,010,000 

1,093,000 

323,000 

217,000 

320,000 

1,000 

173,000 

4,000 

100 

3,200 

39,000 

35,000 

29,000 

200 

2,900 

2,900 
10,000 

4,400 
35,000 

332,000 
274,000 
68,000 

103,000 

490,000 

34,000 

419,000 

22,000 

2,000 

1,800 

100 

2,300 

800 

400 
(') 

300 
8,100 

439,000 
384,000 
55,000 

6,000 
73,000 

1,1W,000 

Shad 

452,000 

Menhaden          

10,000 

Alewives,  or  river  her- 
ring               

149,000 

Squeteague,    or    sea 
trout             

137,000 

Croater               

117,000 

Sturgeon,  caviar,  and 
sturgeon  eggs 

49,000 
44,000 

Catfish 

31,000 

Perch,  white 

20,000 

Spanish  mackerel 

25.000 
21,000 

All  other.           

106,000 

Oysters            

1,909,000 

Market 

1,583,000 

Seed 

320,000 

Clams 

374,000 

253,000 

All  other 

2,900 

4,500 

1  Less  than  $100. 


Ocean  district,  which 
and  was  valued  at 
per  cent  of  the  total 
the  total  value  of  all 
Of  the  total  value  of 


The  combined  catch  of  the  fisheries  of  Chesapeake 
Bay  and  its  tributary  waters  was  301,596,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $4,046,000,  or  97  per  cent  of  the  quantity 
and  86  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  fishery  products  of 
the  state.  The  catch  of  fish  proper  reported  for  this 
district  furnished  36  per  cent  of  the  total  value  for 
the  district,  and  the  yield  of  oysters,  the  most  valuable 
product,  50  per  cent.  Next  to  oysters  the  shad  catch 
had  the  largest  value,  while  the  menhaden,  crab,  clam, 
and  herring  products  also  contributed  largely  to  the 
total  value. 

The  catch  of  the  Atlantic 
weighed  10,918,000  pounds 
$670,000,  represented  only  3 
quantity  and  14  per  cent  of 
fishery  products  of  the  state, 
products  reported  for  tliis  district,  oysters  contributed 
50  per  cent  and  clams  24  per  cent.  Of  fish  proper, 
which  furnished  26  per  cent  of  the  value  returned  for 
the  district,  the  principal  species  taken  were  sque- 
teague, croaker,  and  sturgeon.  Spanish  mackerel 
ranked  next,  with  a  value  of  $16,000^  which  consti- 
tuted 64  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  Spanish  mackerel 
taken  in  the  waters  of  the  state. 

Products,  hy  class  of  fisheries. — The  products  of  tlie 
vessel  fisheries  are  given  in  detail,  by  species  and  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  in  Table  4,  on  page  258,  and  the 
products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  similarly 
shown  in  Table  7,  on  page  260.  As  already  indicated, 
the  table  above  shows  the  distribution,  by  species 
arranged  in  order  of  value,  of  the  total  value  of 
products  reported  for  the  state  and  for  each  class  of 
fisheries. 

The  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  aggi'egated 
207,070,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,009,000,  or  66  per 
cent  of  the  total  quantity  of  fishery  products  taken  in 
the  state'and  2 1  per  cent  of  their  total  value .  Oysters, 
menhaden,  and  crabs  furnished  the  largest  values. 
Of  the  different  species  of  fish  proper  reported,  men- 
haden represented  90  per  cent  of  the  quantity  caught 
in  the  vessel  fisheries. 

The  combined  catch  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries 
of  the  state  aggregated  105,444,000  pounds,  having 
a  value  of  $3,707,000,  or  34  per  cent  and  79  per  cent, 
respectively,  of  the  total  quantity  and  value  of  all  the 
fishery  products  of  the  state.  Oysters,  shad,  and 
clams  were  the  three  most  important  products  of  this 
class  of  fisheries. 

The  value  of  fish  constituted  49  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  the  products  taken  in  the  vessel  fisheries  and 
32  per  cent  of  that  of  products  taken  in  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries.  Oysters  contributed  44  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  products  of  the  former  class  of  fisheries 
and  51  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  products  of  the 
latter. 

Tables  5  and  8,  on  pages  259  and  261  show,  by  species 
and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  the  products,  respectively, 


254 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


of  the  vessel  and  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  tlie 
Chesapeake  Bay  district,  while  corresponding  statis- 
tics for  the  Atlantic  Ocean  district  are  given  in  Tables 
6  and  9,  on  pages  259  and  262.  The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  distribution,  by  district  and  class  of 
fisheries,  of  the  total  quantity  and  value  of  products 
reported  for  the  state : 


FISHERY  products:  1908. 

DISIEICT  AND  CLASS  OP 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

312,515,000 

100 

S4, 716, 000 

100 

Chesapeake  Bay  district 

301,596,000 

97 

4,046,000 

80 

Vessel  fisheries 

206,537,000 
95,060,000 

10,918,000 

66 
30 

3 

985,000 
3,061,000 

670,000 

21 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

65 
14 

534,000 
10,385,000 

"3 

24,000 
646,000 

1 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

14 

'  Less  than  1  per  cent. 

In  both  classes  of  fisheries  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay 
district,  oysters  contributed  the  largest  value,  though 
nine-tenths  of  the  weight  of  the  product  taken  in  the 
vessel  fisheries  consisted  of  menhaden.  More  than 
90  per  cent  of  the  shad  product  of  Virginia  was  caught 
in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and 
its  tributaries. 

The  only  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  of  the 
Atlantic  Ocean  district  were  oysters,  clams,  bluefish, 
sea  bass,  squeteague,  and  scup. 

Products,  hy  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  distributes,  by  apparatus  of  capture 
arranged  in  the  order  of  the  value  of  the  catch,  the 
total  value  of  products  reported  for  the  state  as  a 
whole  and  for  each  district: 


VALUE  OF  PRODUCTS:  1908. 

DND  OF  ATPAEATUS. 

Total. 

Distributed  by 
districts. 

Distributed  by  class 
ol  fisheries. 

Chesa- 

pealie  Bay 

district. 

Atlantic 
Ocean 
district. 

Ves.sel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$4,716,000 

$4,046,000 

$670,000 

$1,009,000 

$3, 707, 000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

2,781,000 

833,000 

631,000 

205,000 

190,000 

47,000 

29,000 

99,000 

2,379,000 

732,000 

508,000 

170,000 

179,000 

44,000 

29,000 

4,600 

403,000 
101,000 
23,000 
36,000 
11,000 
2,500 

611,000 

68,000 

427,000 

600 

6,400 

2,270,000 
776,000 
103,000 
204,000 

Gillnets 

Lines 

184,000 

Fylse  and  hoop  nets 

Dip  nets  

47,000 
29,000 
94,000 



All  other 

96,000 

5,600 

The  catch  made  with  dredges,  tongs,  and  rakes, 
representing  mainly  the  yield  of  oysters,  but  also  that 
of  clams  and  crabs,  contributed  a  larger  percentage  of 
the  value  of  the  products  than  the  catch  made  with 
any  other  class  of  apparatus.  The  value  of  the  prod- 
ucts taken  in  pound  and  trap  nets  made  this  class  of 
apparatus  second  in  importance,  these  nets  being  used 


extensively  in  both  the  Atlantic  Ocean  district  and  the 
Chesapeake  Bay  district,  and  in  the  capture  of  nearly 
all  the  species  of  fish  reported.  They  were  employed 
especially  in  taking  shad  and  herring,  and  contributed 
one-fifth  of  the  total  value  of  the  products  of  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries.  Seines  ranked  third  in  the  value 
of  products  taken.  They  were  used  mostly  in  the 
vessel  fisheries,  80  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  prod- 
ucts reported  for  them  being  credited  to  this  class  of 
fisheries.  GiU  nets  and  lines  were  used  .very  little  in 
the  vessel  fisheries,  while  fyke  and  hoop  nets  were  used 
only  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries.  Dip  nets  were 
employed  only  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Chesa- 
peake Bay.  The  greater  part  of  the  value  of  the  catch 
made  by  means  of  dip  nets  represents  the  value  of  soft 
crabs  caught,  while  hard  crabs  contributed  most  of  the 
value  of  the  catch  by  lines. 

Oysters.— In  1908  the  total  yield  of  oysters  from  Vir- 
ginia beds  was  5,075,000  bushels,  valued  at  $2,348,000, 
or  about  50  per  cent  of  the  value  of  all  the  fishery  prod- 
ucts of  the  state.  The  product  was  distributed  by 
kind  and  area,  as  follows: 


OYSTER  product:  1908. 

KIND  AND  SOURCE. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Bushels. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Percent 

distribu- 
£ion. 

Total 

6,075,000 

100 

$2,348,000 

100 

3,672,000 

72 

1,967,000 

84 

1,369,000 
2,303,000 

1,403,000 

27 
45 

28 

645,000 
1,322,000 

381,000 

27 

From  private  areas 

56 

IS 

From  public  areas 

1,322,000 
81,000 

26 
2 

357,000 
24,000 

15 

1 

The  oyster  product  comprised  3,672,000  bushels  of 
market  oysters,  valued  at  $1,967,000,  and  1,403,000 
bushels  of  seed  oysters,  valued  at  $381,000.  All  the 
seed  oysters  reported,  with  the  exception  of  81,000 
bushels,  were  taken  from  public  areas,  while  63  per 
cent  of  the  market  oysters  were  from  private  areas. 

The  cultivation  of  oysters  has  become  an  important 
part  of  the  oyster  industry  of  Virginia.  Public  reefs 
have  become  yearly  less  productive,  and  there  has  been 
a  tendency  to  enlarge  the  area  available  for  private 
beds.  As  yet  the  cultivated  oysters  of  Virginia  have 
not  brought  as  high  a  price  per  bushel  as  those  from 
New  York  and  Connecticut,  although  the  natural  con- 
ditions of  the  Virginia  waters  are  ideal  for  cultivation 
and  the  state  laws  afford  fairly  good  protection  to 
private  oyster  culture. 

Though  the  value  of  oysters  from  private  areas 
formed  57  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  oyster 
product,  the  quantity  from  these  areas  was  less  than 
that  from  public  areas.  The  average  price  of  market 
oysters  per  bushel  was  57  cents  for  those  from  private 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


255 


areas  and  47  cents  for  those  from  public  areas.  The 
average  price  of  seed  oysters  was  27  conts  per  bushel. 
The  following  tabular  statement,  giving  the  quan- 
tity, value,  and  average  price  per  bushel  of  Virginia 
oysters  for  several  years,  indicates  that  the  product 
has  been  decreasing  in  quantity  since  1901 : 


OTSTKE  PRODUCT. 

TZAJU 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

Amount. 

Average 

per 
bushel. 

1908 

5,075,000 
7,612,000 
7,885,000 
7,024,000 
6,162,000 
6,837,000 

$2,348,000 
3.460.000 
2,923,000 
2,042,000 
2,524,000 
2,218,000 

$0.46 

1904 

0.45 

1901 

0.37 

1897  . 

0.29 

1891 

0.41 

1880 

0.32 

Tonging  was  the  more  usual  method  of  fishing  for 
oysters,  but  dredges  also  were  used  to  some  extent. 
Though  oyster  fishing  was  carried  on  extensively  in 
the  Atlantic  Ocean  district  by  means  of  vessels  and 
boats,  the  value  of  the  product  obtained  from  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its 
tributary  waters  was  much  greater  than  that  of  the 
entire  oyster  product  of  the  former  district. 

Shad. — Shad  ranked  next  to  oysters  in  value  and 
was  the  most  important  species  of  fish  caught.  The 
Virginia  catch  was  the  largest  in  the  country  in  1908, 
weighing  7,314,000  pounds  and  being  valued  at 
$486,000,  or  about  one-fourth  of  the  entire  quantity 
and  value  of  the  shad  caught  in  the  waters  of  the 
United  States.  Its  value  formed  10  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  all  fishery  products  of  the  state.  The  catch 
in  1 908  was  slightly  smaller  in  quantity  but  greater  in 
value  than  that  in  1904,  which  was  7,420,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $440,000. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  catch  of  shad  for  certain  years  from 
1880  to  1908: 


SHAD  PKOnXJCT. 

TEAK. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

7,314,000 
7,420,000 
11,529,000 
0,498.000 
3,172,000 

$486,000 
440  000 

1904                                                          ... 

1S97 

304,000 

1891                                                 .... 

207,000 
134,000 

1880..                 

According  to  the  reports  of  the  fishermen,  the  de- 
crease of  shad  in  the  rivers  tributary  to  Chesapeake 
Bay,  shown  in  previous  reports  of  the  Bureau  of  Fish- 
eries, continues.  This  fish  is  caught  mainly  by  means 
of  pound  nets  and  gill  nets  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisher- 
ies of  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributary  waters.  Less 
than  1  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  shad  represents 
product  taken  in  the  Atlantic  coast  fisheries. 

Menhaden. — The  menhaden  product  of  Virginia 
amounted  to  190,089,000  pounds,  valued  at  $429,000, 


and  represented  nearly  half  of  the  total  weight  and 
value  of  all  the  menhaden  caught  in  the  United  States. 
The  catch  was  considerably  less  than  in  1904,  but  was 
larger  than  in  1897  or  any  previous  year  for  which  sta- 
tistics are  available,  as  is  shown  by  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


MENHADEN  PRODUCT 

TEAS. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

190,089,000 
247,919,000 
178, 65(1, 000 
103,980,000 
88,214,000 

$429,000 
515,000 

1904 

1897 

255.000 

1891 

198,000 

1880 

304,000 

These  fish  run  in  large  schools  and  are  caught  prin- 
cipally by  means  of  seines.  Practically  the  entire 
catch  was  from  the  Chesapeake  Bay  district,  chiefly 
from  its  vessel  fisheries. 

Clams. — The  value  of  the  hard-clam  product  of 
Virginia  exceeded  that  reported  for  any  other  state, 
though  the  New  Jersey  product  exceeded  the  Virginia 
product  in  quantity.  In  1908  the  Virginia  yield  was 
246,000  "bushels,  valued  at  $380,000.  Up  to  1901  the 
yield  was  increasing  regularly;  but  since  that  year, 
though  the  value  has  continued  to  increase,  there  has 
been  some  fluctuation  in  the  quantity.  The  following 
tabular  statement  gives  statistics  of  the  product  for 
certain  years  from  1890  to  1908: 


HAKDCLAM  PRODUCT. 

TEAX. 

Quantity 
(bushels). 

Value. 

1908.. 

246,000 
207,000 
221,000 
105.000 
69,000 

$380,000 
221,000 

1904 

1901 . . 

135,000 

1897 

66,000 

1890 

37,000 

Clams  are  essentially  a  product  of  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries.  Fifty-seven  per  cent  of  the  value  of 
the  Virginia  catch  represents  the  value  of  clams  taken 
in  the  Chesapeake  Bay  district. 

Crabs. — Though  ranking  only  fifth  with  respect  to 
value  among  the  fishery  products  of  Virginia,  the  total 
crab  product  of  the  state  surpassed  in  value  that  of  any 
other  state.  Virginia  ranked  first  in  the  yield  of  hard 
crabs  and  second  only  to  Maryland  in  the  yield  of  soft 
crabs.  In  1908  the  total  crab  product,  all  of  which 
came  from  Chesapeake  Bay  and  its  tributary  waters,  was 
$25,083,000  pounds,  valued  at  $326,000.  This  formed 
nearly  50  per  cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  its  value 
more  than  one-third  of  the  total  value  of  all  hard  and 
soft  crabs  taken  in  the  country.  The  industry  has 
grown  steadily  since  1890;  the  product  increased 
129  per  cent  in  value  from  1901  to  1904,  and  104  per 
cent  in  quantity  and  19  per  cent  in  value  from  1904  to 
1908.  Statistics  as  to  the  yield  in  earUer  years  are 
given  in  the  following  tabular  statement: 


256 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


1908 
1904 
1901 
1897 
1890 


CRAB  PRODUCT. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


25,083,000 
12,207,000 
7,402,000 
6.400,000 
3,025,000 


Value. 


$328,000 

272, 0(X) 

119,000 

68,000 

54,000 


Alewives. — The  alewife  product  has  long  been  im- 
portant among  the  fishery  products  of  Virginia,  and 
both  the  quantity  and  value  increased  greatly  from 
1904  to  1908.  The  catch  in  1908,  amounting  to 
37,885,000  pounds,  valued  at  $171,000,  was  greater 
in  both  quantity  and  value  than  that  reported  for  any 
other  state,  and  furnished  42  per  cent  of  the  weight 

Table  1.— VIRGINIA 


and  nearly  30  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total  alewife 
product  of  the  United  States.  The  increase  in  the 
quantity  of  the  catch  since  1904  amounted  to  almost 
160  per  cent,  and  tliat  in  the  value  to  88  per  cent. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  statistics  for 
certain  years  from  1880  to  1908: 


ALEWIFE   PRODUCT. 

YEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908.          .                                            

37,885,000 
14,604,000 
13.690.000 
11.013.000 
6,925,000 

8171,000 

1904 

91,000 

1897   .   .                     ...                       

71,000 

1891 

94,000 

1880  .                                                   

76,000 

FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Gin  nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

ATI  other  apparatus. 1 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

312,515,000 

$4,716,000 

52,560,000 

$833,000 

191,633,000 

$531,000 

3,489,000 

$205,000 

15,106,000 

$190,000 

1,279,000 

$47,000 

48,447,000 

$2, 910, 000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

37,885,000 

71,000 

242,000 

725,000 

286,000 

738,000 
80,000 

171,000 

6,900 

14,000 

21,000 

8,000 

31,000 

1,800 

119,000 

1,500 

4,200 

7,400 
6,200 
11,000 

4,800 

429,000 

900 

400 

9,400 

27,000 

5,500 

1,000 
3,100 
3,500 
2,900 

486,000 

6,000 

25,000 

15,000 

139,000 
46,000 

49,000 

600 

1,200 

500 

700 

239,000 

87,000 

400 

500 

380,000 

645,000 

1,322,000 

357,000 

24,000 
2,400 

400 

32,889,000 

400 

08,000 

685,000 

22,000 

234,000 
80,000 
4,224,000 
61,000 
25,000 

153,000 
81,000 
46,000 

70,000 
3,884,000 

138,000 
(') 

4,600 
19,000 
1,200 

11,000 

1,800 

103,000 

900 

1,400 

5,900 
2,500 
6,800 

3,700 
10,000 

3,736,000 

62,000 

40,000 

20,000 

236,000 

162,000 

20,000 
6,200 
3,400 
1,400 
5,700 

7,000 

1,105,000 
(") 

29,000 
16,000 
12,000 

56,000 

9,200 

m 

1,500 
300 
500 

2,700 

153,000 
5,700 
5,200 
4,500 
16,000 

240,000 

3,100 
ijOfl 
100 
100 
600 

8,800 

1,000 

100 

2,700 
100,000 

200 
4,700 

Bluefish 

Butterfish 

Carp,  German... 
Catfish 

47,000 

1,900 

CrevaD6  . .    . . 

Croaker 

4,839,000 
78,000 
87,000 

189,000 
233,000 
109,000 

95,000 

190,089,000 

2,200 

10,000 

264,000 

446,000 

118,000 

12,000 
20,000 
65,000 
63,000 

7,314,000 
82,000 
276,000 
192,000 

4,491,000 
504,000 

205,000 
10,000 
58,000 
12,000 

3,000 

23,001,000 

2,082,000 

400 

24,000 

<  1,969,000 

»  9, 581, 000 

'10,124,000 

'9,252,000 

'568.000 
•19,000 

10  300 

76,000 

2,100 

61,000 

1,800 

366,000 
15,000 
5,200 

11,000 

8,800 
000 
300 

400 

111,000 
2,800 
5,000 

5,300 
2,500 

2,900 
(') 
200 

300 
100 

Drum,  salt-water 

Eels 

6,000 

16,000 
84,000 
11,000 

11,000 

186,205,000 
2,200 

200 

600 
2,100 
1,600 

500 

419,000 
900 

48,000 

2,100 

2,800 
0(),000 

100 
1,600 

Hickory  shad 

Hogflsh 

52,000 
7,200 

2,600 
400 

Kingflsh,orwhlt- 
Jng 

Menhaden 

7,000 

200 

Moonftsh 

10,000 
.57,000 
155,000 

45,000 

600 
18,000 
45,000 

400 
2,200 
9,200 

2,100 

2,800 
2,600 

Mullet 

37,000 
107,000 

40,000 
11,000 

1,300 
6,300 

1,800 
900 

148,000 
82,000 

5,100 
5,400 

13,000 
16,000 

500 
1,000 

3,000 
85,000 

32,000 

300 

200 

1,200 

100 
6,000 

1,600 
(») 
% 

5,800 
100 

200 

Perch,  white 

W 

Pike  and  pick- 
erel 

20O 
1,000 

200 

Pompano 

Scup 

400 
2.000 
48,000 

100 

100 

2,000 

17,000 
15,000 

208,000 

800 
900 

15,000 

Sea  bass 

Shad 

5,474,000 

82,000 

220,000 

78,000 

3, 463, 000 
160,000 

65,000 

341,000 
4,900 
19,000 
6,300 

103,000 
14,000 

13,000 

1,697,000 

127,000 

35,000 

3,200 

Sheepshead 

400 

(') 

Spanish  mackerel 
Spot 

200 
44,000 

288,000 
141,000 

1,100 

15,000 
13,000 

300 

45,000 
5,600 

61,000 
02,000 

138,000 

4,566 
600 

2,700 
5,900 

36,000 

11,000 
2,700 

411,000 
107,000 

300 
10,000 
2,600 
3,100 

1,200 
100 

7,600 
10,000 

m 

.500 
100 
100 

62,000 

268,000 
33,000 

3,500 

11,000 
3,500 

Squeteague,     or 
sea  trout 

Striped  bass 

Sturgeon,  caviar, 
and    sturgeon 

100 

(') 

400 
7,200 

(') 
400 

55,000 
500 

1,100 

AU  other 

200 

m 

500 

C) 

Frogs 

3,000 

8,796,000 

2,080,000 

400 

700 

140,000 

700 

14,049,000 
2,300 

148,000 

100 

16,000 

200 

90,000 

Crabs,  soft 

86,000 

Terrapin 

400 

Turtles 

18,000 

300 

600 

(') 

6,000 

200 

U,  969, 000 

'9,581,000 

'16,124,000 

'9,252,000 

8  668,000 
•  19,000 

10300 

380,000 

Oysters,    market, 
from  public  areas 

645,000 

Oysters,    market. 

1,322,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from 
public  areas 

357,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from 
private  areas 

24,000 

2,400 

Skins— mink,  musk- 

400 

1 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  46.954.000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,781,000:  dip  nets,  828,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  eel  pots,  48,000 
pomids,  valued  at  $2,100;  traps,  300  poimds,  valued  at  S-100;  and  minor  apparatus,  1.017,000  pounds,  valued  at  $97,000. 

'  Less  than  $100.  s  1.369,000  bushels.  '  1.322.0(KI  liushels.  « 2,300  gallons. 

»  Less  than  100  pounds.  «  2,303,000  bushels.  e  81,000  bushels.  10 1,000  skins. 

*  246,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2.— VIRGINIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  CHESAPEAKE  BAY  DISTRICT:  1908. 


257 


TOTAL. 

PBOD0CT  CAUGHT   BY— 

SPECIES. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Ail  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

301,596,000 

$4,046,000- 

49,769,000 

$732,000 

191.109,000 

$508,000 

14,836,000 

3179.000 

3.284,000 

$170,000 

1,174,000 

$44,000 

41,425,000 

$2,413,000 

Fish: 

37,713,000 

14,000 

204,000 

600,000 

192,000 

641,000 

80,000 

3,437,000 

31,000 

84,000 

88,000 
233,000 
109,000 

24,000 
190,049,000 

2,200 

10,000 

181,000 

392,000 

101,000 

3.800 
19,000 
44,000 
42,000 
7,267,000 

1.900 

99,000 

154.000 

3,5.57,000 

502,000 

85,000 

8.900 
10,000 
12,000 

3.000 

23.001.000 

2,0S2,000 

24,000 

<  1,113,000 

'8,723,000 

•12,833,000 

'  7,258,000 

« 668,000 

"300 

168,000 

1,100 

11,000 

17,000 

5,200 

28,000 
1,800 

84,000 

600 

4,100 

3,000 
6,200 
U,000 
1,100 
429.000 

900 
400 

6,400 
24,000 

4,800 

300 

3,000 

2,500 

1,700 

481,000 

200 

9,100 

12,000 

100.000 

46,000 

9,400 

11,000 
500 
500 

700 

239,000 

87,000 

500 
217,000 

591,000 

1,102,000 

299,000 

24,000 

400 

32,758,000 

400 

56,000 

,560.000 

22,000 

234,000 

80,000 

2,897,000 

31,000 

25,000 

78.000 
81,000 
46,000 
12,000 
3,844,000 

136,000 
(0 

3,700 

15,000 

1,200 

11,000 
1,800 

70,000 

600 

1,400 

2,500 
2.500 
6,800 
500 
10,000 

3,722.000 

7,000 

20,000 

20,000 

146,000 

71,000 

20,000 

6C0 

1,800 

1,400 

3,000 

4,300 

1,105,000 

29,000 
16,000 
12,000 

56,000 

9,200 

1,500 
300 
500 

2,700 

127,000 
3,700 
5,200 
4,500 
12,000 

234,000 

2,400 
300 
100 
100 
500 

8,600 

1,000 

100 

Black  bass 

2,700 
94,000 

200 
4,200 

Bluefish 

Butterfish 

Carp,  German... 
Catfish 

47,000 

1,900 

Crevall* 

Croaker 

76,666 

2,100 

292,000 

100 

8,200 

7,300 
(=) 
300 

60,000 

i.soo 

111,000 

2,900 

Eels 

5,000 

2,500 
84,000 
11,000 

5,800 
186,205,000 

2,200 

200 

100 
2,100 
1,600 

300 
419,000 

900 

6,000 

5,300 
2,500 

200 

300 
100 

44,000 

2,000 

Flounders 

2,800 
66,000 

100 
1,600 

Mogflsh 

52,000 

2,600 

7,000 

200 

Menliaden 

Minnows 

10,000 
36.000 
1,33,000 
45,000 

600 
18,000 
41,000 

400 
1,300 
7,900 
2,100 

(=) 

2,800 

2,300 

Mullet 

24,000 
78,000 
24,000 

3,000 

900 
4,800 
1,100 

300 

13,000 
16,000 

500 
1,000 

99,000 
82,000 

3,300 
5,400 

3,000 
83,000 
31,000 

100 

200 

1,000 

100 
4  900 
1,*0 

n 

6,800 
100 

200 

Perch,  white 

Perch,  yellow 

(') 

Pike  and  pickerel 

200 
1,000 

200 

400 

100 

2,000 

200 

42,000 
400 

1,700 

(') 

Shad 

5,435,000 

1.500 

88,000 

48.000 

2.809.000 

158,000 

54,000 

5,100 

337,000 

100 
7,900 
4,300 
75,000 
14,000 

6,300 

5,900 

203,000 

14,000 

1,597,000 

127,000 

32,000 

2,900 

Sheepshead 

Spanish  mackerel 

200 

42,000 
212,000 
141,000 

1,000 

100 

(") 

4,100 
12,000 
13,000 

100 

200 

11,000 

2,700 

355.000 

107,000 

300 

1,200 

100 
6,800 
10,000 

(') 

Spot 

56,000 
125,000 
33,000 

3,400 
3,600 
3,500 

5,600 
56,000 
62,000 

30,000 

3,700 

600 
2,600 
6,900 

3,000 

4,600 

SqueteaRue 

Striped  bass 

Sturgeon 

100 

(») 

Caviar  and  stur- 
geon eggs 

Suckers 

10,000 
3,100 

60O 
100 

Another 

7,600 

400 

500 

m 

500 

0) 

* 

Frogs 

3,000 
8,796,000 
2,080,000 

700 

Crabs,  hard 

140,000 

700 

14,049,000 
2,300 
6,000 

148,000 
100 
200 

16,000 

200 

90,000 
86,000 

Crai)s.  soft 

Turtles 

18,000 

300 

600 

m 

Ciams,  hard 

•1,113,000 

'8,723,000 

'12,833,000 

'  7,258,000 

'568,000 

'300 

217,000 

591,000 

1,102,000 

299,000 

24,000 

400 

Oysters,  market, 
Irom  public  areas.. 

Oysters,  market, 
from  private  areas. 

Oysters,  seed,  from 
public  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from 
private  areas 

Skins — mink,  musk- 
rat,  and  otter 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  40,527,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,379,000;  dip  nets,  828,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  eel  pots,  44,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $2,000;  mink,  moskrat,  and  otter  traps,  300  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  and  minor  apparatus,  20,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,100. 

2  Less  than  $100.  *  139,000  bushels.  « 1,833,000  bu.shels.  "  81 ,000  bushels. 
»  Less  than  lOO  pound!!.                                              « 1,246,000  bushels.                                      '  1,037,000  bushels.  •  1,000  skins. 


76786°— 11- 


-17 


258  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  3.— VIRGINIA— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  ATLANTIC  OCEAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

BPZCIES. 

Pound  and 

trap  nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fylce  and  hoop  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total              

10,918,000 

$670,000 

2,791,000 

1101,000 

524,000 

»23,000 

270,000 

$11,000 

106,000 

$2,500 

7,226,000 

$532,000 

rish: 

172,000 
58,000 
38,000 

125,000 
94,000 

97,000 

1,402,000 

48,000 

3,300 

100,000 

70,000 
83,000 
54,000 
17,000 
8,500 

22,000 
21,000 
48,000 
80,000 

177,000 

38,000 

934,000 

2,000 

98,000 
13,000 
58,000 
41,000 

400 
•856,000 

•858,000 

•3,291,000 

•1,994,000 

'19,000 

3,200 
5,800 
3,000 
4,400 
2,800 

2,900 

35,000 

900 

100 

4,300 

3,800 

3,000 

2,900 

700 

600 

900 
1,300 
4,600 
4,S00 

16,000 

2,200 

39,000 

200 

13,000 

17,000 

1,200 

200 

400 
163,000 

54,000 

220,000 

58,000 

2,400 

131,000 

2,300 

14.000 
56,000 
20,000 

200 
5,000 
1,600 

26,000 
2,000 

600 

200 



12,000 
125,000 

900 
4,400 

6,000 

500 

Butterflsh 



90,000 
91,000 

2,700 
2,700 



4,000 
6,000 

100 
200 

Catfish                    

1,327,000 
30,000 

33,000 
300 

74,000 
15,000 

1,500 
600 

1,000 

(') 

2,800 

(■) 

Eels 

3,300 

100 

76,000 

58,000 
21,000 
22,000 

3,400 

3,200 

800 

1,400 

14,000 

6,000 
13,000 
29,000 
16,000 

8,300 

15,000 
15,000 
5,000 

500 

200 
400 
1,500 
600 
600 

600 
900 
400 

11,000 

7,200 
200 
200 

400 
400 

Miillet 

49,000 

1,800 

2,100 

1,000 

200 

200 

100 
(■) 
(') 

Pike  and  nickerel 

4,500 

200 

2,000 
6,000 

100 

400 

Shad 

40,000 
80,000 

132,000 

30,000 

654,000 

2,000 

5,500 
500 

4,000 
4,800 

11,000 

2,000 

28,000 

200 

600 
500 

3,000 

300 

45,000 

4,500 

Spot 

1,500 
76,000 

3,300 

6,000 
143,000 

ioo 

7,300 

56,000 

800 

6,000 

200 

Strlned  bass 

93,000 
12,000 

12,000 

Caviar  and  sturgeon  eggs 

Sunfish 

16,000 

55,000 

1,100 

2,500 

100 

A  n  nthpr 

40,000 

200 

200 

400 
•856,000 

•858,000 

'3,291,000 

•1,994,000 

'19,000 

(1) 

400 

163,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  public 

54,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 

220,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. 

58,000 

2,400 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  5,428,000  pounds,  valued  at  $403,000;  gill  nets,  205,000  pounds,  valued  at  $35,000;  eel  pots,  3,300  pounds, 
valued  at  $100;  and  minor  apparatus,  1,591,000  pounds,  valued  at  $95,000. 

«  Less  than  $100.  •  107,000  bushels.  <  123,000  bushels.  '  470,000  bushels.  «  285,000  bushels.  '  2.300  gallons. 

Table  4.— VIRGINIA— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Seines. 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total          

207,070,000 

$1,009,000 

186,361,000 

$427,000 

7,016,000 

$58,000 

321.000 

$6,400 

13,371,000 

$517,000 

Fish: 

6,358,000 

37,000 

7,500 

6,000 

22,000 

93,000 

8,300 

900 

186,205,000 

3,000 

8,300 

9,000 

17,000 

6.1,000 

588,000 

3,000 

58,000 

28,000 

100 

500 

6,722,000 

11.1,000 

•42,000 

'1,661,000 

•3,596.000 

'1,313,000 

•105,000 

22,000 

2,900 

300 

300 

800 

1,800 

400 

100 

419,000 

200 

40O 

400 

700 

2,900 

34,000 

300 

2,000 

2,300 

100 

(') 

70,000 

3,600 

6,000 

113,000 

271,000 

51,000 

4,000 

6,358,000 

100 

7,500 

22,000 
300 

Blnefi<;h 

25,000 

2,000 

12,000 

800 

6.000 
9,000 

300 
400 

! 

13,000 
53,000 

400 
1,000 

40,000 

800 

Eels                                        

5,000 

200 

3,300 

200 

900 

100 

186.205,000 
3,000 

7,000 
9,000 
15,000 
15,000 

419,000 
200 

400 
400 
600 
900 

Mullet                               

Perch  white 

1,300 

100 

(») 

(») 

Soup 

2,000 
48,000 

100 
2,000 

Bhad 

580,000 

34,000 

8,500 

400 

3,000 

18,000 

600 

300 
500 
100 

38,000 
24,000 

1,.W0 
2,000 

1,500 

2,000 

IOO 

500 

100 
200 
100 
(') 

1,000 

100 

196,000 
400 

1,700 
(') 

fl,.526,000 

114,000 

•42,000 

•1,661,000 

•3,596,000 

'1,313,000 

•105,000 

68,000 

Crabs,  soft 

3,600 

6,000 

113,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  privata  areas 

j 

271.000 

61,000 

4,000 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  13,171,000  pounds,  valued  at  $511,000;  gill  nets,  9,500  pounds,  valued  at  $600;  eel  pots,  3,300  pounds 
valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  188,000  pounds,  valued  at  $6,400. 

'  Less  than  $100.  •  Less  than  100  pounds.  •  6,300  bu-shels.  '  237,000  bushels.  '514,000  bushels.  '  188,000  bushels.  15,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES.  259 

Table  6.— VIRGINIA— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES  OF  CHESAPEAKE  BAY  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

BPEOES. 

Seines. 

Found  and  trap  nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

206,537.000 

$985,000 

186.286,000 

$424,000 

7,016,000 

158,000 

301,000 

$5,300 

12,933,000 

$498,000 

Fish: 

Alewives 

6,358,000 

11,000 

7,500 

6,000 

22,000 

93,000 

8,300 

900 

186,205,000 

3,000 

8,300 

9,000 

42,000 

588,000 

22,000 
800 
300 
300 
800 

1,800 

400 

100 

419,000 

200 

400 

400 

1,700 

M  nnn 

6,358,000 

100 

7,500 

22,000 
^'>300 

Bluefish 

6,000 

400 

6,000 

400 

Butterflsh 

Carp,  German 

6,000 
9,000 

300 
400 

Catfish 

13,000 
53,000 

400 
1,000 

Croaker 

40,000 

800 

Eels 

5,000 

200 

3,300 

200 

Hogfish 

900 

100 

Menhaden 

186,205,000 
3,000 

7,000 
9,000 

419,000 
200 

400 
400 

Mullet 

Perch,  white 

1,300 

100 

C) 

(.') 

Perch,  yellow 

Sea  bass 

42,000 

1,700 

Shad 

580,000 

34,000 

8,500 

400 

Spot 

3,000              300 

3,000 

12,000 
500 

300 

300 
100 

Bqueteague,  or  sea  trout 

27,000 

28,000 

400 

200 

6,722,000 

115,000 

« 30,000 

'1,063,000 

'3,451,000 

'1,041,000 

•105,000 

1,100 
2,300 
100 
(•) 

70,000 

3,600 

3,800 

112,000 

263,000 

43,000 

4,000 

13,000 
24,000 

700 
2,000 

1,500 

2,000 

400 

200 

100 
200 
100 
(») 

Striped  bass 

1,000 

100 

Sturgeon ,  caviar,  and  sturgeon  eggs 

Another. : * „ 

196,000 
400 

1,700 
(») 

6,526,000 

114,000 

'30,000 

'1,653,000 

"3,451,000 

'1,041,000 

•  105,000 

68,000 
3,600 

Crabs,  soft 

Clams,  hard ...            

3,800 
112,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas 

263,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas 

43,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private  areas 

4,000 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  12,913,000  pounds,  valued  at  $497,000;  gill  nets,  9,500  pounds,  valued  at  $500;  eel  pots,  3,300  pounds, 
valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  7,QO0  pounds,  valued  at  $200. 

•  Less  than  $100.  a  Less  than  100  pounds.  '  3,800  bushels.  '  236,000  bushels.  •  493,000  bushels.  '  149,000  bushels.  •  15,000  bushels. 

Table  6.— VIRGINIA— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES  OF  ATLANTIC  OCEAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPEOES. 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Minor  apparatus. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

534,000 

$24,000 

258,000 

$14,000 

75,000 

C3,800 

20,000 

$1,100 

181,000 

$5,200 

Fish: 

Blue fish 

26,000 
17,000 
21,000 
31,000 

•  12,000 

>8,S0O 

•146,000 

'272,000 

2,100 
700 

1,300 
900 

2,200 

500 

8,200 

8,300 

20,000 
15,000 
15,000 
25,000 

1,600 
600 
900 
800 

6,000 
2,000 
6,000 
6,000 

500 
100 
400 
200 

Scup 



Seabacs 

Clams,  hard                                  

'12,000 

•8,800 

•146,000 

92,000 

2,200 

500 

8,200 

3,100 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas 

181,000 

5,200 

>  1,500  bushels. 


>  1,200  bushels. 


•21,000  bushels. 


9,000  bushels. 


260 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  7.— VIRGINIA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES 

TOTAL. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

Fylce  and  hoop 

nets. 

All  other  apparatus.^ 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Vaue. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Vo.lue. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

105,444,000 

$3,707,000 

45,543,000 

$776,000 

3,479,000 

$204,000 

14,785,000 

$184,000 

5,272,000 

$103,000 

1,279,000 

$47,000 

35,085,000 

$2,393,000 

Fish: 

31,626,000 
71,000 
205,000 
718,000 
280,000 

716,000 
80,000 
4,745,000 
78,000 
79,000 

188,000 
233,000 
108,000 
95,000 
3,884,000 

2,200 

10,000 

261,000 

438,000 

109,000 

12,000 
20,000 
48,000 
6,726,000 
82,000 

276,000 

189,000 

4,433,000 

476,000 

183,000 

22,000 
10,000 
68,000 
12,000 

3,000 

16,279,000 

1,967,000 

500 

24,000 

<  1,927,000 

6  7,920,000 

•12,528,000 

'  7,939,000 

•463,000 

»  19,000 

i«300 

149,000 
6,900 
11,000 
21,000 
7,700 

31,000 

1,800 

117,000 

1,500 

3,800 

7,300 
6,200 

11,000 
4,800 

10,000 

900 

400 

9,200 

20,000 

5,100 

1,000 
3,100 
2,800 
452,000 
5,000 

25,000 
14,000 
137,000 
44,000 

22,000 

27,000 

500 

1,200 

500 

700 

IM.OOO 

S.000 

500 

500 

374,000 

532,000 

1,050,000 

306,000 

20,000 

2,400 

400 

26,631,000 

400 

68,000 

677,000 

22,000 

221,000 

80,000 

4,171,000 

61,000 

25,000 

153,000 

81,000 

46,000 

70,000 

3,884,000 

117,000 
(•) 

4,600 

19,000 

1,200 

11,000 

1,800 

102,000 

900 

1,400 

5,900 
2,600 
6,800 
3,700 
10,000 

1,105,000 
(>) 

29,000 
16,000 
12,000 

66,000 

9,200 

300 
500 

2,700 

3,736,000 

62,000 

15,000 

20,000 

230,000 

183,000 

20,000 
6,200 
1,300 
1,400 
5,400 

6,700 

163,000 
5,700 
5,200 
4,500 
16,000 

240,000 

3,100 
500 
100 
100 
600 

8,800 

1,000 

100 

Black  bass 

2,700 
88,000 

200 
3,800 

Butterfish 

Carp,  German 

47,000 

1,900 

Crevall<5 

61,000 

1,800 

325,000 
15,000 
6,200 

11,000 

7,900 
600 
300 

400 

76,000 

2,100 

111,000 
2,800 
5,000 

5,300 
2,500 

2,900 
C) 
200 

300 
100 

Eels 

44,000 

1,900 

2,800 
66,000 

100 
1,600 

16,000 
84,000 
11,000 
11,000 

600 
2,100 
1,600 

500 

Hickory  shad 

51,000 
7,200 

2,600 
400 

"K'incffi'sh 

7,000 

200 

2,200 

900 

i6,666 

57,000 
154,000 
45,000 

600 

18,000 

45,000 

4,896,000 

82,000 

220,000 

78,000 

3,461,000 

158,000 

60,000 

5,500 

400 
2,200 
9,200 
2,100 

(») 

2,800 

2,600 

307,000 

4,900 

19,000 

6,300 

103,000 

14,000 

6,800 

6,300 

Mullet 

148,000 
82,000 

6,100 
5,400 

13,000 
16,000 

500 
1,000 

34,000 
100,000 
31,000 

11,000 

1,100 
6,900 
1,400 

900 

3,666 
86,000 
32,000 

300 

200 

1,200 

36,000 

100 
5,000 
1,600 

m 
m 

100 
3,200 

5,866 
100 

200 

Perch,  white 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel,. 

(») 

200 
1,000 

^'k, 

400 

100 

2,000 
208,000 

200 
16,000 

1,588,000 

127,000 

Sheepshead 

Spanish  mackerel.. 

400 

m 

45,000 

5,000 

61,000 

61,000 

122,000 

16,000 

4,600 

600 

2,700 

6,800 

16,000 

21,000 

200 

44,000 

250,000 

117,000 

1,000 

100 

(') 

4,200 
14,000 
11,000 

100 

200 

11,000 

2,700 

411,000 

107,000 

300 

1,200 

100 

7,600 

10,000 

(•) 

69,000 
250,000 
33,000 

3,200 
10,000 
3,400 

Squeteaeue 

Striped  bass 

100 

(•) 

Caviar   and   stur- 
geon eggs 

10,000 
2,500 
3,100 

500 
100 
100 

400 
7,200 

(') 
400 

56,000 
600 

1,100 

All  nthpr 

200 

« 

500 

(') 

3,000 

2,270,000 

1,965,000 

500 

700 

140,000 

700 

13,853,000 
1,900 

147,000 
100 

16,000 

200 

22,000 

Crabs  soft 

83,000 

600 

Turtles 

18,000 

300 

600 

(') 

6,000 

200 

<  1,927,000 

s  7,920,000 

•12,528,000 

'  7,939,000 

•463,000 

» 19,000 

i»300 

374,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

532,000 

Oysters,  market,  from 

private  areas 

Oysters,    seed,     from 

1,050,000 

306,000 

Oysters,    seed,    from 
private  areas 

20,000 

2,400 

Skins— mink,  muskrat, 

400 

•  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  32,783,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,270,000;  dip  nets,  828,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  eel  pots,  44,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,900;  minlc,  muskrat,  and  otter  traps,  300  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  and  minor  apparatus,  1,429,000  pounds,  valued  at  $92,000. 

«  Less  than  $100.  '  1,131,000  liushels.  '  1,134,000  bushels.  »  2,300  gallons. 

>  Less  than  100  pounds.  •  1,790,000  bushels.  8  66,000  bushels.  w  1,000  sldns. 

« 241,000  bushels. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES.  261 

Table  8.— VIJRGINIA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF  CHESAPEAKE  BAY  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PEODUCT  CAtrOHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Pound  and  trap 

nets. 

Lines. 

GiU  nets. 

Seines. 

Fyke^^^dhoop     au  other  apparatus.. 

i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pound.s). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(fwunds). 

value.    «^[ 

Value. 

Total 

95,060,000 

13,061,000 

i 
42,752,000  1674,000 

14,535,000 

$173,000 

3,275,000 

$170,000 

4,823,000 

184,000 

1,174,000 

144,000  28,502,000 

11,915,000 

Fish: 

31,355,000 

14,000 

193,000 

593,000 

186,000 

619,000 

80,000 

3,344,000 

31,000 

76,000 

88,000 

233,000 

108,000 

24,000 

3,844,000 

2,200 

10,000 

178,000 

384,000 

92,000 

3,800 

19,000 

44,600 

6,679,000 

1,900 

99,000 

151,000 

3,530,000 

474,000 

85,000 

8,900 
10,000 
12,000 

3,000 

16,279,000 

1,967,000 

24,000 

<  1,082,000 

>  7,070,000 

•9,382,000 

'6,217,000 

'463,000 

»300 

146,000 

1,100 

10,000 

16,000 

4,900 

28,000 
1,800 

82,000 

600 

3,700 

3,000 
6,200 

11,000 
1,100 

10,000 

900 
400 

6,200 
24,000 

4,400 

300 

3,000 

2,500 

447,000 

200 

9,100 
12,000 
99,000 
44,000 

9,400 

11,000 
500 
500 

700 
169,000 
83,000 

500 
213,000 

479,000 
838,000 
257,000 
20,000 
400 

26,399,000 

400 

56,000 

552,000 

22,000 

221,000 

80,000 

2,844,000 

31,000 

25,000 

77,000 
81,000 
46,000 
12,000 
3,844,000 

114,000 

m 

3,700 
15,000 
1,200 

11,000 
1,800 

69,000 

600 

1,400 

2,500 
2,500 
6,800 
500 
10,000 

1,105,000 
(>) 

29,000 
16,000 
12,000 

56,000 

9,200 

m 

1,500 
300 
500 

2,700 

3,722,000 

7,000 

15,000 

20,000 

139,000 

62,000 

20,000 

600 

1,300 

1,400 

2,700 

3,900 

127,000 
3,700 
5,200 
4,500 
12,000 

234,000 

2,400 
300 
100 
100 
600 

8,600 

1,000 

100 

2,700 
88,000 

200 
3,800 

Bluefish 

Butterfish 

Catfish 

47,000 

1,900 

CrevallS 

Croaker 

251,000 

100 

5,200 

6,600 
300 

60,000 

1,800 

76,000 

2,100 

111,000 

2,900 

Drum,  salt-water 

Eels 

5,000 

5,300 
2,500 

200 

300 
100 

41,000 

1,800 

2,800 
66,000 

100 
1,600 

2,500 
84,000 
11,000 

6,800 

100 
2,100 
1,600 

300 

Hickory  shad 

51,000 

2,500 

KiDRflsh 

7,000 

200 

Minnows 

2,200 

900 

Moonflsh 

10,000 
36,000 
131,000 
45,000 

600 

18,000 

41,000 

4,855,000 

1,500 

88,000 

48,000 

2,807,000 

156,000 

54,000 

5,000 

400 
1,300 
7,800 
2,100 

m 

2,800 

2,300 

303,000 

100 

7,900 
4,300 
75.000 
14,000 

6,300 

5,800 

Mullet 

Perch,  white 

13,000 
16,000 

500 
1,000 

99,000 
82,000 

3,300 
5,400 

21,000 
71,000 
15,000 

3,000 

700 

4,400 

700 

300 

3,000 
83,000 
31,000 

100 

200 

1,000 

32,000 

100 
4,900 
1,500 

^ 

2,900 

5,800 
100 

200 

Pike  and  pickerel 

200 
1,000 

200 

400 

100 

Soup 

2,000 
203,000 

200 
14,000 

Shad 

1,588,000 

127,000 

Sheepshead 

400 

W 

Spanish  mackerel 

200 

42,000 

199,000 

117,000 

1,000 

100 

m 

4,100 
11,000 
11,000 

100 

200 

11,000 

2,700 
355,000 
107,000 

300 

1,200 
100 

6,800 
10,000 

m 

Spot 

53,000 
113,000 
33,000 

3,100 
3,300 
3,400 

5,600 
66,000 
61,000 

30,000 

3,700 

500 
2,600 
5,800 

3,000 

4,600 

Squeteague 

100 

(«) 

Sturgeon 

Caviar  and  sturgeon 
eggs 

10,000 
3,100 

500 
100 

Another 

7,600 

400 

500 

(') 

500 

(.') 

Frogs 

3,000 
2,270,000 
1,965,000 

700 

Crabs,  hard 

140,000 

700 

13,853,000 
1,900 
6,000 

147,000 
100 
300 

16,000 

200 

22,000 

Crabs,  soft 

Turtles 

18,000 

300 

600 

m 

ClJ^TTiH,  haffl 

•1,082,000 

'7,070,000 

•9,382,000 

'6,217,000 

•463,000 

•300 

Oysters,   market,   from 
public  areas 

479,000 

838,000 

257,000 

20,000 

400 

Oysters,    market,    from 
private  areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pub- 
lic areas 

Oysters,  seed,  from  pri- 
vate areas 

Skin,s— mink,   muskrat, 
and  otter 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  27,614,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,881,000;  dip  nets,  828,000  pounds,  valued  at  $29,000;  eel  pots,  41,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,800;  mink,  muskrat,  and  otter  traps,  300  pounds,  valued  at  $400;  and  minor  apparatus,  19,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,900. 

2  Less  than  $100.  <  135,000  bushels.  •  1 ,340,000  bushels.  •  66,000  bushels. 

»  Less  than  100  pounds.  '  1,010,000  bushels.  '  888,000  bushels.  •  1,000  skins. 


262  '       FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  9.— VIRGINIA— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF  ATLANTIC  OCEAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT   BY  — 

SPECIES. 

lOTAIu 

Pound  and  trap 

nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus. ' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

10,385,000 

$646,000 

2,791,000 

$101,000 

205,000 

S35,000 

449,000 

$19,000 

250,000 

$10,000 

106,000 

i2,500 

6,583,000 

$478,000 

FUh: 

172,000 
58,000 
12,000 

125,000 
94,000 

97,000 

1,402,000 

48,000 

3,300 

100,000 

70,000 
83,000 
54,000 
17,000 
8,500 

4,700 
48,000 
80,000 
177,000 
38,000 

903,000 
2,000 
98,000 
13,000 
58,000 
41,000 

400 
'844,000 
<  849,000 

'3,145,000 

•1,721,000 

'  19,000 

3,200 
5,800 
900 
4,400 
2,800 

2,900 

35,000 

900 

100 

4,300 

3,800 

3,000 

2,900 

700 

600 

300 
4,600 
4,800 
16,000 
2,200 

38,000 

200 

13,000 

17,000 

1,200 

200 

400 
160,000 
53,000 

212,000 

50,000 

2,400 

131,000 

2,300 

14,000 
56,000 

200 
5,600 

26,000 
2,000 

600 
200 

12,000 
125,000 

900 
4,400 

Butterflsh 

90,000 
91,000 

2,700 
2,700 

4,000 
6,000 

100 
200 

Catfish 

1,327,000 
30,000 

33,000 
300 

1,000 

m 

74,000 
15,000 

1,500 
600 

2,800 

« 

Eels 

3,300 

100 

76,000 

58,000 
21,000 
22,000 

3,400 

3,200 

800 

1,400 

14,000 

5,000 
13,000 
29,000 
16,000 

8,  .300 

500 

200 
400 
1,500 
600 
600 

ii,66o 

7,200 
200 
200 

400 
400 



Trinfifish 

Mullet 

49,000 

1,800 

Perch  white 

2,100 

1,000 

200 

200 
3,000 

100 

(') 
m 

m 

300 

Scup 

4,500 
40,000 
80,000 
132,000 
30,000 

654,000 

2,000 

5,500 

500 

200 

4,000 
4,800 
11,000 
2,000 

28,000 
200 
000 
500 

Shad 

5,000 

400 

■■"45,o66' 

4,500 

Spot 

1,500 
52,000 

2,600 

6,000 
137,000 

100 
7,100 

5,000 

200 

56,000 

800 

93,000 
12,000 

12,000 
10,000 

Caviar  and  sturgeon  eggs 

55,000 

1,100 

2,500 

100 

All  other 

40,000 

200 

200 

(») 

400 

'844,000 
•849,000 

S3,145,000 

«1 ,721,000 

'  19,000 

400 

160,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  public  areas 
Oysters,    market,    from    private 



53,000 

212,000 
50,000 

Oysters,  seed,  from  public  areas. . . 

2,400 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  5,169,000  pounds,  valued  at  $-389,000;  eel  pots,  3,300  pounds,  ^«lued  at  $100;  and  minor  apparatus 
1,410,000  pounds,  valued  at  $90,000. 

«  Less  than  $100.  >  106,000  bushels.  <  121,000  bushels.  *  449,000  bushels.  » 246,000  bushels.  '  2,300  gallons. 


WASHINGTON. 

Washington  ranked  fourth  among  the  states  in 
1908  in  the  extent  of  its  fisheries,  as  measured  by  the 
value  of  their  products,  which  was  $3,513,000,  and 
was  exceeded  only  by  Massachusetts,  Virginia,  and 
New  York.  Among  the  Pacific  coast  states  it  ranked 
first  in  this  respect  both  at  the  present  census  and  at 
the  canvasses  of  1899  and  1904,  while  at  the  can- 
vasses of  1888,  1892,  and  1895  it  stood  second. 

In  this  report  the  fishing  grounds  of  Washington  are 
divided  into  two  districts:  The  Pacific  Ocean  district, 
which  comprises  the  Pacific  Ocean,  Puget  Sound  and 
other  inlets,  and  all  rivers,  except  the  Columbia, 
flowing  into  the  Pacific  Ocean ;  and  the  Columbia  River. 

A  summary  of  the  principal  statistics  relating  to 
the  fisheries  of  the  state  for  the  year  1908  is  given  in 
the  following  tabular  statement: 

Number  of  persons  employed 4, 954 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boatB,  including  outfit $1, 970, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 1, 162, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 309, 000 

Value  of  products 3, 513, 000 


Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  figures  for 
the  number  of  persons  employed  and  the  amount 
reported  As  the  value  of  the  investment  in  shore  and 
accessory  property,  together  with  cash  capital,  are  not 
comparable  with  those  for  previous  canvasses,  inas- 
much as  the  latter  include  returns  from  canneries  and 
packing  houses  and  wholesale  dealers.  In  the  follow- 
ing tabular  statement,  however,  which  gives  a  com- 
parative summary  for  the  canvasses  of  1888,  1892, 
1895,  1899,  1904,  and  1908,  comparable  figures  have 
been  secured  by  eliminating  shoresmen  and  the 
amounts  reported  for  shore  and  accessory  property  and 
cash  capital: 


Persons 
employ- 
ed, ex- 
clusive 
of  shores- 
men. 

VALtra;  OF    EQUIPMENT. 

PHODUCTS. 

YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels  and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

Apparatus 
of  capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

1904 

1899 

1895 

1892 

1888 

4,879 
6,074 
5,617 
5,008 
3,458 
2,854 

$3,132,000 

2,548.000 

2,620.000 

872,000 

030,000 

651,000 

$1,970,000 
859,000 
775.000 
331,000 
281.000 
249,000 

$1,162,000 

1,690,000 

1,845,000 

542.000 

349,000 

402.000 

100,456,000 
88,955,000 

120.588,000 
59,080.000 
36,757,000 
23,362,000 

$3,513,000 

2,973,000 

2,871,000 

1,402,000 

932,000 

891,000 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


263 


The  fisheries  of  the  state  have  shown  a  steady 
growth,  the  vahie  of  their  products  having  more  than 
quadrupled  during  the  twenty  years  between  1888 
and  1908.  The  vahie  of  vessels  and  boats  has 
increased  steadily  since  1888.  In  the  value  of  appa- 
ratus of  capture,  however,  there  has  been  a  gradual 


decrease  since  1899,  and  the  number  of  persona 
employed  in  1908  was  smaller  than  in  1895,  1899,  or 
1904. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  table  shows  the 
distribution  of  the  persons  employed  in  1908  for  the 
state  and  for  the  two  districts: 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

Total. 

Proprietors 
ana  inde- 
pendent 
fishermen. 

Salaried 
employees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Salaries. 

Wages. 

Total                               

4,954 

12,058 

25 

2,871 

$1,224,000 

124,000 

3  $1,200,000 

Vessel  fisheries .          

1,109 

134 

3,636 

75 

70 

5 

1,983 

14 

1,026 

129 

1,642 

76 

685,000 
69,000 

448,000 
32,000 

13,000 

ii,'666' 

672,000 

59,000 

Siioro  and  lx)at  fisheries 

11 

437,000 

32,000 

Pacific  Ocean  district 

3,511 

1,309 

22 

2,120 

1,086,000 

23,000 

1,062,000 

Vessel  fisheries                                            

1,109 

117 

2,210 

75 

1,443 

70 

2 

1,297 

14 

1,025 

115 

906 

75 

751 

685,000 
56,000 

313,000 
32,000 

139,000 

13,000 

672,000 

66,000 

8 

10,000 

303,000 

32,000 

689 

3 

800 

138,000 

17 
1,428 

3 

686 

14 
737 

4,200 
136,000 

4,200 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries                                                 .                   

3 

800 

134,000 

1  Exclusive  of  35  proprietors  not  fishing. 

The  fisheries  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  district  gave 
occupation  to  approximately  seven-tenths  of  the  total 
number  employed  in  fishing  and  to  three-fourths  of  the 
number  employed  in  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  shows  in  detail  the  number  and  value  of 
vessels  and  boats,  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory 
property,  and  the  amount  of  cash  invested  in  1908, 
both  for  the  state  as  a  whole  and  for  the  two  districts : 


VALUE  or    EQtnPMENT  AND    OTHEB 

capital:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  1NYK3TMENT. 

Total. 

Pacific 

Ocean 

district. 

Columbia 
River. 

Total 

$3,441,000 

$2,682,000 

$860,000 

1,594,000 

1,352,000 

1,194,000 

841,000 

353,000 

157,000 

113,000 

44,000 

1,100 

242,000 

236,000 

200,000 

35,000 

6,900 

377,000 

120,000 

95,000 

47,000 

110,000 

1,162,000 

60,000' 

1,102,000 

220,000 

89,000 

1,572,000 

1,352,000 

1,194,000 

841,000 

363,000 

157,000 

113,000 

44,000 

1,100 

220,000 

213,000 

181,000 

32,000 

6,900 

226,000 

67,000 

9,900 

42,000 

116,000 

686,000 

60,000 

626,000 

120,000 

89,000 

21,000 

Fisliing  .               

Steam  and  motor                   

Vessels 

Outfit                          

Sail 

Vessels                        

Outfit 

other                               

21,000 

Steara  and  motor 

21,000 

18,000 

Outfit                     

2,900 

other 

Boats..                             

152,000 

62,000 

Sail...                             

85,000 

Row 

4,900 

Other                             

676,000 

676,000 
100,000 

Cash. 

Of  the  total  capital  invested  in  the  fisheries  of 
Washington  in  1908,  46  per  cent,  or  somewhat  less 
than  one-half,  represented  the  value  of  fishing  and 


'  Includes  provisions  furnished  to  the  value  of  $187,000. 

transporting  vessels,  the  value  of  fishing  vessels 
alone  forming  39  per  cent,  or  not  quite  two-fifths. 
The  investment  in  vessels  was  mainly  in  power 
craft  of  at  least  5  tons  register,  the  value  of  which 
constituted  42  per  cent,  or  slightly  more  than 
two-fifths,  of  the  total  capital  employed,  while  the 
value  of  all  other  classes  of  vessels  formed  only  5  per 
cent  of  the  total.  In  the  fisheries  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  district  61  per  cent,  or  almost  exactly  three- 
fifths,  of  the  capital  was  invested  in  vessels,  as  com- 
pared with  a  corresponding  percentage  of  a  little  over 
2  for  the  Columbia  River  fisheries,  where  all  of  the 
comparatively  small  number  of  vessels  employed  were 
engaged  in  transporting  the  catch. 

Next  to  the  value  of  vessels,  that  of  apparatus  of 
capture  was  the  largest  item  of  capital,  amounting  to 
34  per  cent,  or  about  one-third  of  the  total.  By  far 
the  largest  proportion — 68  per  cent,  or  slightly  more 
than  two-thirds — of  the  capital  employed  in  the  fish- 
eries of  the  Columbia  River  represented  the  value  of 
apparatus  of  capture.  The  value  of  boats  formed  11 
per  cent  of  the  total  investment  for  the  state,  that 
of  shore  and  accessory  property  6  per  cent,  and  the 
amount  of  cash  3  per  cent,  all  the  cash  reported  being 
invested  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  district. 

Statistics  as  to  the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels 
and  the  number  of  boats  are  given  in  the  next  tabu- 
lar statement. 

The  vessels  engaged  in  fishing  in  1908  comprised  85 
steam  and  22  sail  vessels,  with  a  combined  tonnage  of 
3,991,  and  11  unrigged  craft,  the  value  of  all  classes  of 
fishing  vessels  being  $955,000.  Of  these,  all  of  which 
were  used  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  district,  45  belonged 


264 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


to  the  halibut  fleet  and  eight  were  employed  in  the 
cod  fisheries,  the  remaining  65  being  practically  all 
used  in  making  the  salmon  catch. 


CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 


Vessels,  number 

Fishing,  number 

Steam  an  J  motor — 

Number 

Tonnage 

Sail- 
Number 

Tonnage 

other,  number 

Transporting,  nimiber . . 
Steam  and  motor- 
Number 

Tonnage 

Other, number 

Boats,  number 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail 

Row 

Other 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:   1908. 


Total. 


190 
118 

85 
2,323 

22 

1,662 

11 

72 

46 

615 

26 

2,798 

239 

661 
1,535 

463 


Pacific 
Ocean 
district. 


182 
118 

85 
2,329 

22 

1,062 

11 

64 

38 
540 
26 
2,M3 
87 
81 
1,412 
463 


Columbia 
River. 


75 


755 
152 

480 
123 


In  addition  to  the  vessels  engaged  in  fishing,  46 
registered  vessels  and  26  unrigged  barges  and  scows 
were  used  exclusively  for  transporting  the  catch.  Of 
this  number,  only  eight  were  used  on  the  Columbia 
Kiver.  The  pound  and  trap  net  catch  of  Puget 
Sound  was  credited  to  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  the 
tugs  used  m  moving  the  catch  from  the  traps  to  the 
canneries  or  markets  being  classified  as  transporting 
rather  than  fishing  vessels. 

In  1904  there  were  50  fishing  vessels  and  80  trans- 
porting vessels  reported  by  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries. 
The  present  census  therefore  shows  a  large  increase 
in  the  number  and  value  of  fishing  vessels  reported, 
and  a  small  decrease  in  the  number  and  value  of 
vessels  engaged  exclusively  in  transporting  the  catch. 

The  number  of  power  boats  employed  was  239  and 
their  value  $120,000,  as  compared  \nth.  63  boats,  all 
operated  by  gasoline  and  valued  at  $44,000,  in  1904. 
Of  the  boats  reported  in  1908,  152,  valued  at  $62,000, 
were  used  on  the  Columbia  River,  and  87,  valued  at 
$57,000,  in  the  other  waters  of  the  state.  In  contrast 
to  this  large  increase  in  power  boats,  there  was  a  ma- 
terial decrease  in  both  the  number  and  the  value  of 
other  boats  reported,  including  both  sail  and  row  boats. 
The  combined  number  of  sail  and  row  boats  reported  in 
1904  was  3,448,  and  their  value  $310,000,  while  in  1908 
only  2,096,  valued  at  $141,000,  were  in  use.  The  sail- 
boat is  still  employed  to  a  considerable  extent  on  the 
Columbia  River,  while  practically  all  the  rowboats  are 
in  use  on  Puget  Sound  and  other  inland  waters.  The 
boats  included  under  the  head  "Other"  are  scows  or 
barges  of  less  than  5  tons  register. 

The  amount  invested  in  apparatus  of  capture  in 
1908  was  $1,162,000,  as  compared  with  $1,690,000  in 
1904.  This  large  decrease  was  caused  to  a  great  extent 
by  the  fact  that  gill  nets  are  taking  the  place  of  pound 
nets  and  seines  in  the  salmon  fisheries.     The  number 


of  pound  nets  reported  showed  a  decrease,  while  the 
number  of  gill  nets  reported  increased  from  1,537  in 
1904  to  2,221  in  1908.  The  extending  of  the  fisheries 
so  as  to  include  in  the  catch  many  species  of  fish  wliich 
a  few  years  ago  were  considered  of  little  or  no  impor- 
tance has  resulted  in  an  increased  use  of  the  purse  seine. 
The  investment  in  apparatus  of  capture  is  nearly 
equal  for  the  two  districts  into  which  the  state  is 
divided,  the  apparatus  reported  for  the  fisheries  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean  district  being  valued  at  $586,000  and 
that  reported  for  fisheries  of  the  Columbia  River  at 
$576,000. 

The  value  of  the  apparatus  employed  in  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries,  $1,102,000,  is  greatly  in  excess  of 
that  reported  for  vessel  fisheries,  $60,000.  Of  the 
latter  amount,  $45,000,  or  slightly  more  than  75  per 
cent,  represented  the  value  of  lines  used  for  the  cod 
and  halibut  catch. 

While  the  pound  net  is  used  more  extensively  in  the 
salmon  fisheries  of  Puget  Sound,  the  larger  gill  nets 
are  found  in  the  Columbia  River  fisheries,  for  wliich 
926  were  reported,  as  compared  with  1,295  gill  nets 
returned  as  used  elsewhere  in  the  state.  Fish  wheels, 
of  wliich  13  were  reported,  were  in  use  only  on  the 
Columbia  River,  and  their  catch  was  confined  to  sal- 
mon. The  following  tabular  statement  shows  statis- 
tics as  to  the  number  of  the  more  important  kinds  of 
apparatus  of  capture: 


Beam  trawls 

Cral)  pots 

Dip  nets 

Giflnets 

Pound  nets 

Seines 

Trap  and  hoop  nets. 
Wheels 


APPARATUS  OF  CAPTURE:    1908.' 


Total. 


1 

7,765 

80 

2,221 

365 

349 

ISO 

13 


Pacific 
Ocean 
district. 


1 
7,755 


1,295 
137 
314 

ISO 


Columbia 
River. 


80 
926 
228 

35 


1  All  used  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  except  1  beam  trawl,  2  gill  nets,  and  45  seines. 

Products,  by  spedes. — Table  1,  on  page  267,  shows  in 
detail  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  products,  by 
species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  for  1908.  The 
total  products  of  the  Washington  fisheries  in  1908 
amounted  to  100,456,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,513,- 
000,  as  compared  with  88,955,000  pounds,  valued  at 
$2,973,000,  in  1904,  an  increase  of  11,502,000  pounds, 
or  13  per  cent,  in  quantity,  and  $541,000,  or  18  per 
cent,  in  value.  The  increase  reported  for  halibut 
alone  was  very  large,  amounting  to  18,086,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $879,000;  but  this  increase  was  partially 
offset  by  the  decreases  reported  for  several  other  spe- 
cies, particularly  for  several  varieties  of  salmon.  For 
cod,  herring,  and  smelt  there  were  marked  increases 
both  in  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  catch.  The 
black  bass,  which  was  formerly  caught  in  limited 
quantities,  is  reported  to  be  entirely  extinct,  none 
having  been  taken  for  the  past  few  seasons. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


265 


Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — Tables  2  and  3,  on 
page  268,  give,  respectively,  for  the  Pacific  Ocean  dis- 
trict and  for  the  Columbia  River,  statistics  similar  to 
those  shown  in  Table  1.  The  relative  importance  of 
the  different  species  is  indicated  in  the  following  tabu- 
lar statement,  which  distributes  the  value  of  products 
reported  for  the  state  and  for  each  district  according 
to  species,  arranged  in  order  of  value:  " 


Total 

Fish 

Salmon 

Chinook 

Blueback,  orsockeye. 

Silver 

Steelhead 

Dog,  or  chum 

Halibut 

C-od,  salted 

Smelt 

Herring 

Perch,  viviparous 

Sturgeon 

Rockflsh 

All  other 

Oysters 

Market,  from  private  areas 
Seed,  Irom  private  areas. . . 

Crabs,  hard 

Shrimp 

Clams,  razor 

Clams,  hard 


VAX.UE  or  PBODCcrrs;  1908. 


Total. 


$3,513,000 


3,054,000 

1,571,000 

505  000 

513'.  000 

255,000 

123,000 

115,000 

1,2.16,000 

124,000 

61,000 

21,000 

15,000 

6,000 

5,200 

15,000 

352.000 

346,000 

6,600 

51,000 

22,000 

22,000 

13,000 


Pacific 

Ocean 

district. 


53,018,000 


2,559, 

1,097 

250; 

499, 

200, 

■12> 

105, 

1,236, 

•    124, 

46. 

21 

16: 

3, 

5. 

13, 

362, 

346 

a\ 

51 
22. 
22 
13 


Columbia 
River. 


!495,000 


495,000 
476,000 
316,000 
14,000 
54,000 
81,000 
11,000 


16,000 


2,900 

'i',mb 


Of  the  products  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  district  fish- 
eries the  salmon  product  was  the  most  important,  so 
far  as  the  amount  of  the  catch  is  concerned,  contribut- 
ing 44,297,000  pounds,  or  not  quite  one-half  of  a  total 
catch  of  89,305,000  pounds.  The  largest  value,  how- 
ever, was  reported  for  the  halibut  catch,  which  ranked 
second  in  quantity,  and  represented  somewhat  more 
than  one-third  of  the  total  catch  and  the  total  value. 
The  lower  average  value  of  the  salmon  product 
resulted  largely  from  the  fact  that  the  species  of  salmon 
for  which  the  largest  catch  was  reported  was  the  dog 
or  chum,  which  is  of  comparatively  little  value. 
Catches  but  slightly  smaller  than  that  of  the  latter 
species  were  reported  for  the  blueback  and  for  the 
silver  salmon,  the  value  of  the  blueback  catch  repre- 
senting 45  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  of 
the  salmon  fisheries.  Oysters  ranked  next  to  salmon 
in  value  of  products,  while  salted  cod  also  contributed 
an  important  product  from  the  standpoint  both  of 
quantity  and  value. 

Practically  the  only  important  product  of  the 
Columbia  River  fisheries  was  salmon,  which  repre- 
sented 90  per  cent  of  the  total  catch  and  contributed 
96  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  reported  for 
this  river.  Of  the  different  species  of  salmon,  the 
chinook,  which  ranked  fourth  in  quantity  and  second 
in  value  in  the  Pacific  Ocean  district,  led  both  in 
quantity  and  value,  constituting  53  per  cent  of  the 
total  salmon  catch  reported  for  the  Columbia  River, 
and  contributing  66  per  cent,  or  practically  two- 
thirds,  of  its  value.     The  silver  variety  ranked  next 


to  the  chinook  in  quantity,  and  the  steelhead  next  in 
value,  while  insignificant  totals  were  reported  for  the 
blueback,  v»hich,  as  has  already  been  shown,  was  the 
principal  product  of  the  salmon  fisheries  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean  and  its  adjoining  waters.  There  was  a  fairly 
large  smelt  product,  but  the  catches  of  all  other  vari- 
eties of  fish  reported  for  the  Columbia  River  were 
unimportant  both  in  quantity  and  value. 

Of  the  total  value  of  products,  87  per  cent  repre- 
sented the  value  of  fish  proper.  The  value  of  the 
salmon  catch  constituted  45  per  cent,  or  more  than 
three-sevenths,  of  the  total  value  of  products  for  the 
state;  36  per  cent,  or  not  quite  three-eighths,  of  the 
value  of  the  catch  reported  for  the  Pacific  Ocean  dis- 
trict; and  96  per  cent,  or  considerably  more  than  nine- 
tenths,  of  the  value  of  the  Columbia  River  catch. 
The  halibut  catch  ranked  second  in  importance,  as 
measured  by  value,  and  was  confined  entirely  to  the 
ocean  fisheries,  its  value  representing  35  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  products  and  41  per  cent  of  the 
value  of  products  reported  for  the  Pacific  Ocean  dis- 
trict. The  value  reported  for  oysters  represented 
10  per  cent  of  the  total  in  1908.  No  other  product 
contributed  as  much  as  5  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  products. 

The  fisheries  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  district  formed  by 
far  the  more  important  branch  of  the  state's  fisheries, 
contributing  86  per  cent,  or  more  than  five-sixths,  of 
the  total  value  of  products,  as  compared  with  14  per 
cent  credited  to  the  Columbia  River.  The  latter  dis- 
trict, however,  reported  30  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  the  salmon  catch. 

The  following  tabular  statement  shows  the  distri- 
bution of  the  total  catch  of  the  state  according  to  the 
different  waters  from  which  it  was  taken: 


nSHn^Q  QHOUND. 


Total 

Pacific  Ocean 

Puget  Sound , 

Colum bia  River , 

Willapa  Bay , 

Grays  Harbor 

Bellingham  Bay  and  adjacent  waters. 
Quinlault  River , 


nSHERY  PKODUCTS:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


100,456,000 


35,028,000 

46,020,000 

11,151,000 

2,025,000 

3,294.000 

1,159,000 

780,000 


Value. 


$3,513,000 


1,369,000 

1,308,000 

496,000 

220,000 

56.000 

36,000 

22,000 


The  largest  quantity  of  product  was  caught  in 
Puget  Sound,  although  the  value  of  the  ocean  catch 
was  greater  by  more  than  $60,000.  This  is  due  to  the 
increased  activity  in  the  cod  and  halibut  fisheries, 
which  are  ocean  fisheries,  and  the  decrease  in  the 
Puget  Sound  catch  of  the  more  valuable  varieties  of 
the  salmon. 

Products,  hy  class  of  fisheries. — Statistics  relating  to 
the  products  of  the  vessel  fisheries  of  the  state,«by 
species  and  by  apparatus  of  capture,  are  presented 
in  Table  4,  on  page  269;  and  similar  statistics  for 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  are  given  in  Table  5,  on 


266 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


page  269.  Statistics  as  to  the  products  of  the  shore 
and  boat  fisheries  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  district  are 
given  in  Table  6,  on  page  270. 

The  total  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  was  40,171,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $1,569,000,  representing  40  per 
cent  and  45  per  cent,  respectively,  of  the  correspond- 
ing totals  for  the  state.  Halibut  was  the  principal 
product,  forming  75  per  cent  of  the  total  catch  of  the 
vessel  fisheries,  and  contributing  79  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  of  their  products.  Cod,  salmon,  oysters, 
and  shrimp  were  other  products  of  importance.  The 
bulk  of  the  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  was  made 
by  lines,  seines,  and  dredges  and  tongs,  87  per  cent 
of  the  quantity  being  taken  by  lines.  Less  than  1  per 
cent  of  the  total  product  was  caught  by  gill  nets  and 
trawls.  The  total  catch  of  the  vessel  fisheries  was 
credited  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  discrict,  no  fishing  ves- 
sels being  employed  in  the  Columbia  River  fisheries. 

The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  produced  60  per  cent 
of  the  total  quantity  and  55  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  fishery  products  of  Washington  in  1908.  Salmon 
formed  the  chief  product,  and  of  the  total  salmon  catch 
in  the  state  92  per  cent,  representing  95  par  cent 
of  the  value,  was  reported  by  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries.  Pound  nets,  gill  nets,  and  seines  were  the 
apparatus  most  extensively  used  in  this  class  of 
fisheries. 

Of  the  total  quantity  reported  for  the  fisheries  of 
the  Pacific  Ocean  district,  55  per  cent,  with  a  value 
equal  to  48  per  cent  of  the  total  value,  represented  the 
products  of  the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  these 
waters,  comprising  mainly  salmon,  together  with 
oysters  and  other  shellfish. 

Products,  by  apparatus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  shows  the  value  of  the  products 
taken,  by  the  principal  kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture 
used,  in  1908: 


nSHERY  products:  1908. 

KIND  or 

APPABATCS. 

Total. 

Distributed  by 

districts. 

Distributed  by  class  of 
fisheries. 

Pacific 

Ocean 

district. 

Columbia 
River. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

$3,513,000 

$3,018,000 

$495,000 

$1,569,000 

$1,944,000 

Lines 

1,308,000 
808,000 
468.000 
3.52,000 
333,000 

61,000 
26,000 
47,000 

1,368,000 
703,000 
253,000 
.^52,000 
256,000 

51,000 

1,368,000 

Pound  nets 

Gill  nets 

165,000 
216,000 

868,000 

700 
104,000 
96,000 

468,000 

Dredges,  tongs,  etc. 
Seines 

248,000 

77,000 

237,000 

Traps    and    hoop 

51,000 

Wheels     . 

26,000 
12,000 

20.000 

All  other 

35,000 

1,100 

40,000 

The  line  catch  was  larger  in  respect  both  to  quan- 
tity and  value  than  the  catch  credited  to  any  other 
kind  of  apparatus  used  in  1908.  Hahbut  represented 
86  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  90  per  cent  of  the 


value  of  products  taken  by  lines,  cod  and  rockfish 
being  the  only  other  kinds  of  fish  included  in  this 
catch. 

The  greater  part  of  the  catch  reported  as  taken  by 
pound  nets,  gill  nets,  and  seines  consisted  of  salmon, 
although  large  quantities  of  herring,  smelt,  flounders, 
and  shrimp  are  caught  by  seines. 

Salmon. — Salm6n  is  the  principal  product  of  the 
Washington  fisheries  both  in  quantity  and  value,  the 
catch  of  1908  amounting  to  54,312,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $1,571,000,  although  this  represents  a  decrease  of 
20  per  cent  in  quantity  and  of  19  per  cent  in  value 
since  1904,  when  a  catch  of  68,252,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $1,943,000,  was  reported.  The  several  species  all 
shared  in  these  decreases,  with  the  exception  of  the 
blueback,  or  sockeye,  and  the  steelhead.  For  the 
former  an  increase  of  9  per  cent  in  quantity  was  re- 
ported, which  was  accompanied,  however,  by  a  de- 
crease of  3  per  cent  in  value,  and  for  the  steelhead  an 
increase  of  26  per  cent  in  quantity  and  a  gain  of  56  per 
cent  in  value  were  reported. 

Both  in  1908  and  1904  the  largest  catch  reported 
for  any  single  species  was  for  the  silver  salmon, 
although  the  later  canvass  shows  marked  decreases 
in  both  the  quantity  and  the  value  of  this  species, 
amounting  to  46  per  cent  and  49  per  cent,  respectively. 
Dog  salmon  was  next  in  importance,  so  far  as  the 
amount  of  the  catch  was  concerned,  followed  closely 
by  the  blueback  and  the  chinook.  Owing  to  the  supe- 
rior quality  of  the  last-named  species,  however,  the 
value  of  the  catch  was  greater  than  that  reported  for 
any  other  species  of  salmon,  the  blueback  being  a  close 
second  in  this  respect,  while  for  dog  salmon,  on  ac- 
count of  its  inferiority  as  a  food  fish,  the  smallest  value 
was  reported,  in  spite  of  the  large  catch  of  this  species. 
The  marked  falling  off,  as  compared  with  1904,  both 
in  tlie  quantity  and  value  of  the  chinook  catch,  ac- 
companied by  the  increase  in  the  catch  of  the  blue- 
back  salmon,  makes  it  probable  that  the  latter  may 
in  time  become  the  most  important  product  of  the 
salmon  fisheries  of  the  state.  Both  species  are  largely 
sold  fresh,  being  frozen  and  sliipped  in  refrigerator  cars 
to  eastern  markets. 

The  following  tabular  statement  distributes  the 
salmon  catch  of  the  state  according  to  the  diflferent 
waters  from  which  it  was  taken: 


nsHma  obodmd. 


Total 

Puget  Sound 

Columbia  River. 
Orays  Uarbor ... 
Willapa  Bay  — 
Quiniault  River. 
Bellinghani  Bay 


SALMON  PBODUCT:  1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


54,312,000 


37,571,000 

10,015,000 

3,203,000 

1,781,000 

780.000 

961,000 


Value. 


$1,571,000 


995,000 
475,000 
45,000 
24,000 
22,000 
11,000 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


267 


Hdliiut. — Next  to  salmon  the  halibut  product  is  the 
most  important  of  the  fishery  products  of  Washington. 
The  catch  of  1908,  a  year  which  was  one  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful ever  experienced  by  the  fisheries  of  the  northwest 
coast,  was  the  heaviest  yet  reported,  amounting  to 
30,072,000  pounds,  valued  at  111,236,000— an  increase 
since  1904  of  149  per  cent  in  quantity  and  246  per  cent 
in  value.     The  growth  of  the  halibut  fishery  has  been 


more  marked  than  that  of  any  other  branch  of  the 
Washington  fisheries.  During  the  summer  months  the 
halibut  fleet,  which  has  recently  been  increased  by  the 
addition  of  a  number  of  splendid  steel  vessels,  operates 
off  Cape  Flattery,  but  as  winter  approaches  it  becomes 
too  rough  in  this  locality,  and  the  smaller  boats  tie  up 
for  the  winter,  while  the  larger  ones  go  to  Alaska,  where 
the  fishing  grounds  are  better  protected  from  storms. 


Table  1.— WASHINGTON— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUQHT  BY— 

SPEaEs. 

TOTAL. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

WheeU. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus. 1 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

100,456,000 

$3,513,000 

35,013,000 

$1,368,000 

28,860,000 

$868,000 

16,262,000 

$468,000 

14,932,000 

$333,000 

481,000 

$26,000 

4,909,000 

$450,000 

Fish: 

168,000 

4,648,000 

62,000 

284,000 

30,072,000 

2,506,000 

661,000 

132,000 

12,501,000 
12,330,000 

13,065,000 
14,080,000 
2,339,000 

100,000 

2,897,000 

190,000 

185,000 

2,179,000 

247,000 

'166,000 

<  234, 000 

•1,321,000 

•104,000 

4,900 

124,000 

1,400 

3,200 

1,236,000 
21,000 
15,000 
5,200 

513,000 
505,000 

115,000 
265,000 
123,000 

1,900 
61,000 
3,800 
6,000 

51,000 
22,000 
13,000 
22,000 

346,000 

6,m> 

168,000 

4,648,000 

62,000 

4,900 

124,000 

1,400 

Cod,  salted 

Flounders 

27,000 

300 

267,000 

3,000 

Halibut 

30,072,000 

1,236,000 

300,000 

2,300 

2,206,000 

661,000 

69,000 

1,269,000 
851,000 

5,226,000 

1,375,000 

661,000 

35,000 

1,907,000 

185,000 

8,100 

19,000 
15,000 
3,500 

57,000 
48,000 

54,000 
28,000 
36,000 

700 

45,000 

3,000 

700 

Perch,  viviparous.. 

Roclcflsh 

63,000 

1,700 

Salmon,  blueback 
or  sockeye 

10,491,000 
5,818,000 

4,230,000 

6,991,000 

855,000 

64,000 

424,000 
242,000 

32,000 
122,000 
41,000 

1,200 

649,000 
5,385,000 

3,600,000 

5,714,000 

726,000 

500 
90,000 

27,000 
258,000 

30,000 
105,000 
41,000 

(') 
4,500 

92,000 
282,000 

5,300 
16,000 

Salmon,  chinook.. 

Salmon,    dog    or 
chum 

Salmon,  silver 

Salmon,  steelhead. 

107,000 

4,800 

Shad 

Smelt 

900,000 

12,000 

Sole 

6,000 
80,000 

200 
2,700 

97,666 

2,600 

2,179,000 

15,000 

•155,000 

"234,000 

•1,321,000 

•104,000 

61,000 

1,000 

13,000 

22,000 

346,000 

6,500 

Shrimp 

232,000 

21,000 

Clams,  razor 

Oysters,  market,  from 
private  areas 



Oysters,  seed,  from  pri- 

I  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:    Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,425,000  pounds,  valued  at  $352,000;  traps  and  hoop  nets,  2,179,000  pounds,  valued  at  $51,000;  dip 
nets,  900,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000;  beam  trawls,  15,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,100;  and  minor  apparatus,  389,000  pounds,  valued  at  $34,000. 

>  Less  than  $100.  >  19,000  bushels.  <  23,000  bushels.  •  189,000  bushels.  •  16,000  bushels. 


268 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  2.— WASHINGTON— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  PACIFIC  OCEAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPEaES. 

Lines. 

Pound  nets. 

Seines. 

Gill  nets. 

Ail  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total                  

89,305,000 

83,018,000 

35,013,000 

$1,368,000 

24,928,000 

1703,000 

13,379,000 

$266, 000 

11  077  nnn 

$253,000 

4,010,000 

$439,000 

Fish: 

Black  cod 

168,000 

4,648,000 

62,000 

284,000 

30,072,000 

2,606,000 

661,000 

132,000 

12,231,000 
6,981,000 
12,246,000 
12,150,000 
689,000 

1,907,000 
190,000 
139,000 

2,179,000 

247,000 

> 155,000 

=  234,000 

•1,321,000 
» 104,000 

4,900 

124,000 

1,400 

3,200 

1,236,000 
21,000 
15,000 
6,200 

499,000 
250,000 
105,000 
200,000 
42,000 

45,000 
3,800 
3,100 

51,000 
22,000 
13,000 
22,000 

346,000 
6,500 

168,000 

4,648,000 

62,000 

4,900 

124,000 

1,400 

Flounders 

27,000 

300 

257,000 

2,900 

Halibut 

30,072,000 

1,236,000 

Herriug                          .  . 

300,000 

2,200 

2,206,000 
661,000 
69,000 

1,252,000 

39,000 

5,226,00  t 

1,146,000 

199,000 

1,907,000 
185,000 

19,000 
16,000 
3,500 

57,000 
2,000 
52,000 
22,000 
14,000 

45,000 
3,600 

Percti,  viviparous 

Eoclcnsh 

63,000 

1,700 

Salmon,  blueback  or  sock- 

10,334,000 
4,425,000 
3,690,000 
5,993,000 
86,000 

417,000 

161,000 

26,000 

92,000 

3,500 

645,000 
2,617,000 
3,330,000 
5,011,000 

403,000 

26,000 
88,000 
26,000 
86,000 
25,000 

Salmon,  cliinsok 

Salmon,  dog  or  clium 

Salmon,  silver 

Sole 

5,000 
68,000 

200 
1,700 

71,000 

1,400 

2,179,000 

15,000 

=  155,000 

3  234,000 

•1,321,000 
6 104,000 

51,000 

232,000 

21,000 

1,100 

13,000 

Clams,  razor 

22,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private 
areas 

346,000 
6,500 

Oysters,  seed,  from  private 
areas        .         

'Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:   Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,425,000  pounds,  valued  at  $352,000;  traps  and  hoop  nets, 2,179,000  pounds,  valued  at  $51,000;  beam 
trawls,  16,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,100;  and  minor  apparatus,  389,000  pounds,  valued  at  $34,000. 

!  19,000  bushels.  »  23,000  bushels.  •  189,000  bushels.  »  15,000  bvishels. 


Table  3.— WASHINGTON— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  THE  COLUMBIA  RIVER:'  1908. 


PEODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES 

Gill  nets. 

Pound  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poiinds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

11,151,000 

$495,000 

4,285,000 

$216,000 

3,932,000 

$166,000 

1,554,000 

$77,000 

1,382,000 

$38,000 

270,000 
5,356,000 

809,000 
1,930,000 
1,650,000 

100,000 

990,000 

46,000 

14,000 
316,000 
11,000 
64,000 
81,000 

1,900 
16,000 
2,900 

3,500 

2,868,000 

270,000 

703,000 

323,000 

500 
90,000 
26,000 

100 

170,000 

4,300 

19,000 

16,000 

(') 

4,600 

1,200 

168,000 
1,393,000 
639,000 
997,000 
769,000 

64,000 

7,600 
82,000 

6,600 
30,000 
38,000 

1,200 

•  17,000 
812,000 

700 
46,000 

92,000 
282,000 

6,300 

Salmon,  Chinook...        

16,000 

Salmon,  silver..           .... 

229,000 
451,000 

35,000 

5,600 
23,000 

700 

107,000 

4,800 

Shad 

Smelt         

900,000 

12,000 

12,000 

1,000 

8,100 

700 

'  All  taken  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

:  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Wheels,  481,000  pounds,  valued  at  $26,000;  and  dip  nets,  900,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000. 

•  Less  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  4.— WASHINGTON— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


269 


PBODUCT  CAUOHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

Lines. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total .             .      . 

40,171,000 

xi.'ioa.onn 

35,013,000     11,368,000 

4,719,000 

196,000 

439,000 

S106,000 

Fish: 

Black  cod 

168,000 
4,048,000 
62,000 
30,072,000 
130,000 
63,000 

604,000 

6,000 

3,a'i2,000 

020,000 

24,000 

38,000 

14,000 

247,000 
3  377,000 

4,900 
124,000 
1,400 
1,230,000 
1,300 
1,700 

30,000 

400 

30,000 

11,000 

1,800 

1,100 

200 

22,000 
104,000 

108,000 

4,648,000 

02,000 

30,072,000 

4,900 

124,000 

1,400 

1,236,000 

Cod,  salted 



Halibut 

130,000 

1,300 

Roclcflsh 

63,000 

1,700 

664,000 
6,000 
3,027,000 
598,000 
24,000 
38,000 

30,000 

400 

30,000 

11,000 

1,800 

1,100 

Salmon,  chinoolc 

5,000 
28,000 

■''^500 

Salmon,  silver 

Smelt 

Sturgeon 

14,000 

15,000 
'377,000 

200 

Shrimp 

232,000 

21,000 

1  100 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,etc.,  377,000  pounds,  valued  at  $104,000;  beam  trawls,  15,000  pounds,  valued  attl,100;  and  gill  nets,  47,000 
pounds,  valued  at  $700. 
'  Less  than  $100. 
'  54,000  bushels. 


Table  5.— WASHINGTON— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PBODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Pound  nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total. 

60,285.000 

$1,944,000 

28,860,000 

$868,000 

16,215,000 

$468,000 

10,213,000 

$237,000 

4,998,000 

$371,000 

Fish: 

Flounders 

284,000 

2,376,000 

660,000 

69,000 

11,837,000 
12,330.000 
10,023,000 
13,454,000 
2,314,000 

100,000 

2, 859, 000 

190,000 

171,000 

2,179.000 
3  15.5,000 
< 234, 000 
'944.000 
•104,000 

3,200 
20,000 
15,000 

3,500 

484.000 
51)5,000 
85.000 
243,000 
121,000 

1,900 
60,000 
3,800 
5,800 

51,000 
13,000 
22.000 
242.000 
6,500 

27,000 
300,000 

300 
2,200 

257,000 

2,076,000 

660,000 

69,000 

605.000 
845,000 
2,199.000 
778.000 
030,000 

35,000 

1,869,000 

185,000 

8,100 

2,900 
17,000 
15,000 

3,500 

28,000 
48,000 
22,000 
17,000 
34,000 

700 

44,000 

3,600 

700 

Herring 

Perch,  viviparous 

Rockflsh 

Salmon .  blue  back  or  sockeye 

10,491,000 
5.818.000 
4,230,000 
6,990,000 
855,000 

64,000 

424,000 
242,000 

32,000 
122,000 

41,000 

1.200 

649,000 
5,385,000 
3,595.000 
5.686,000 

726,000 

500 
90,000 

27.000 
258,000 

30,000 
105,000 

41,000 

(2) 

4,500 

92,000 
282,000 

5,300 
16,000 

Salmon,  steelhead 

107,000 

4,800 

Shad 

Smelt 

900,000 

12,000 

Sole 

5,000 
80,000 

200 
2,700 

83,000 

2,400 

Crabs,  hard 

2,179,000 
3  155.000 
•234,000 
'944.000 
•104,000 

51.000 

Clams,  hard 

13,000 

22.000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas 

242  000 

6,500 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tonss,  etc.,  1,048,000  pounds,  valued  at  $248,000;  traps  and  hoop  nets,  2,179,000  pounds,  valued  at  $51,000;  wheels, 
ISLOO")  pounds,  valued  at  $26,000;  dip  nets,  900,000  pounds,  valued  at  SI2,000:  and  minor  apparatus,  389,000  pounds,  valued  at  $34,000. 

«  Less  than  $100.  » 19,000  bushels.  « 23,000  busheU.  »  13S;000  bushels.  •  15,000  bushels. 


270  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  6.— WASHINGTON— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES   OF  THE   PACIFIC  OCEAN   DISTRICT:  1908. 


PKODDCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

sPEazs. 

Pound  nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

49,134,000 

SI,  449,000 

24,928,000 

$703,000 

11,930,000 

$252,000 

8,659,000 

$160,000 

3,617,000 

$334,000 

Fish: 

Flounders 

284,000 

2,376,000 

660,000 

69,000 

11,566,000 
6,975,000 
9,214,000 

11,524,000 
664,000 

1,869,000 
190,000 
125,000 

2,179,000 
2  155,000 
'234,000 
< 944,000 

3,200 
20,000 
15,000 

3,500 

470,000 
250,000 

74,000 
189,000 

40,000 

44,000 
3,800 
2,900 

51,000 

13,000 

22,000 

242,000 

6,500 

27,000 
300,000 

300 
2,200 

257,000 

2,076,000 

660,000 

69,000 

588,000 
33,000 
2,199,000 
549,000 
175,000 

1,869,000 
185,000 

2,900 
17,000 
15,000 

3,500 

27.000 
1,600 
22,000 
11,000 
12,000 

44,000 
3,600 

Herring 

Percli 

Roclfflsh 

Salmon,  blueback  or  sockeye 

10,334,000 

4,425,000 

3,690,000 

5,993,000 

86,000 

417,000 
161,000 
26,000 
92,000 
3,500 

645,000 
2,517,000 
3,325,000 
4,983,000 

403,000 

26,000 
88,000 
26,-000 
86,000 
25,000 

Salmon,  otiinook 

Salmon,  dog  or  clium 

Saimon,  silvp.r.       

Salmon,  steelhead 

Smelt 

Sole 

6,000 
68,000 

200 
1,700 

Sturgeon 

57,000 

1,100 

Crabs,  liard 

2,179,000 
2  155,000 
•234,000 
< 944,000 
'104,000 

niftTTi<!,  hnrrt 

13,000 
22,000 
242,000 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  areas 

'104,000 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Dredges,  tongs,  etc.,  1,048,000  pounds,  valued  at  $248,000;  traps  and  hoop  nets,  2,179,000  pounds,  valued  at  $51,000;  and 
minor  apparatus,  389,000  pounds,  valued  at  $34,000. 

'  19,000  bushels.  a  23,000  bushels.  <  135,000  bushels.  '  15,000  bushels. 


WEST   VIRGINIA. 

The  commercial  fisheries  of  West  Virginia  are  con- 
fined to  the  Ohio  River  and  are  all  of  the  shore  and 
boat  class. 

The  following  statement  gives  a  general  summary  of 
the  fishing  industry  of  the  state  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 8 

Capital: 

Boats $100 

Apparatus  of  capture 200 

Shore  and  accessory  property 800 

Value  of  product 2, 000 

In  1908  large  reductions  appear  in  the  number  of 
persons  employed,  the  capital  invested,  and  the  quan- 
tity and  value  of  fishery  products,  as  compared  with 
1899  and  1894,  for  which  years  statistics  are  given  in 
the  reports  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries.  The  com- 
parative figures  are  as  follows : 


Persons 
employed. 

Capital 
invested. 

PEODCCTS. 

TXAR, 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

8 
86 
67 

$1,100 
3,600 
4,100 

33,000 
161,0(JO 
162,000 

$2,000 
12,000 
8,700 

1899 

1894 

The  total  value  of  equipment  as  reported  for  1908 
was  $300,  and  represented  eight  rowboats,  valued  at 
$100,  and  apparatus  of  capture  valued  at  $200.  The 
latter  consisted  of  lines,  two  seines,  and  22  fyke  and 
hoop  nets. 


The  quantity  and  value  of  products,  by  species,  were 
as  follows: 


SPECIES. 

FISBEKY  products: 
190S. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

33,000 

$2,000 

Catfish 

9,600 
9,800 
3,400 
6,000 
3,000 
1,400 
300 

700 

Drum,  fresh-water 

300 

Sturgeon 

200 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  ptke) 

100 

Buffalo  fish 

(0 

I  Less  than  $100. 
WISCONSIN. 

The  fishery  products  of  Wisconsin  were  obtained 
from  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributaiy  waters, 
and  from  Lake  Superior  and  Lake  Michigan.  The  fol- 
lowing statement  gives  a  summary  of  the  chief  statis- 
tics for  the  fishing  industry  of  this  state  in  1908: 

Number  of  persons  employed 2,  Oil 

Capital: 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit $417, 000 

Apparatus  of  capture 407, 000 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash 276,  (X)0 

Value  of  products 1, 007, 000 

Comparison  with  previous  canvasses. — The  value  of 
the  product  in  1908  was  larger  than  that  reported  in 
1899,  in  both  the  river  and  the  lake  districts.  The 
comparative  summary  following  shows  the  more  im- 
portant statistics  relating  to  the  fisheries  of  the  two 
districts  in  1899  and  1908. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


271 


Per- 
sons 
em- 
ployed, 
exclu- 
sive of 
shores- 
men. 

VALUE  OF  EtmiPMENT. 

PBODHCTS. 

DISTBICT  AND 
YEAR. 

Total. 

Vessels 

and 

boats, 

including 

outfit. 

Apparar 

tusof 
capture. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

All  fisheries: 

1908 

1899 

1,889 
1,645 

(824.000 
483.000 

$417,000 
196,000 

J4O7.000 
287,000 

30,953,000 
36,767,000 

$1,067,000 
542,000 

Great  Lakes: 

1908 

1,284 
1,154 

605 
491 

751,000 
468,000 

73,000 
16,000 

383,000 
189,000 

34,000 
7,000 

367,000 
279,000 

40,000 
8,000 

22,995,000 
19,530,000 

7,958,000 
17,237,000 

853,000 

1899 

Mississippi  River 
district: 
1908       

454,000 
215.000 

1899 

88,000 

The  large  quantity  reported  for  the  Mississippi 
River  district  in  1899  consisted  chiefly  of  mussel 
shells,  the  food-fish  catch  in  that  year  being  only  about 
a  million  pounds.  A  period  of  great  excitement  over 
pearl  hunting  began  in  1896,  and  this  activity,  whUe  it 
lasted,  drew  fishermen  away  from  their  usual  pur- 
suits, so  that  the  catch  of  fish  proper  was  very  small. 

Persons  employed. — The  following  table  gives  data 
concerning  the  persons  employed  in  the  fisheries  of 
Wisconsin  in  1908.  The  number  connected  with  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  including  36  of  the  shoresmen, 
was  1,528,  whUe  the  number  credited  to  vessel  fish- 
eries, including  the  86  remaining  shoresmen,  was  473. 
More  than  one-half  of  the  persons  employed  in  the 
shore  and  boat  fisheries,  and  nearly  nine-tenths  of 
those  employed  in  the  vessel  fisheries,  were  reported 
for  the  Lake  Michigan  district. 


PERSONS  employed:  1908. 

Number. 

Salaries  and  wages. 

DISTRICT  AND  CLASS. 

Total. 

Proprie- 
tors and 
independ- 
ent fish- 
ermen. 

Salaried 
employ- 
ees. 

Wage- 
earners. 

Total. 

Sala- 
ries. 

Wages. 

Total 

2,011 

11,120 

3 

888 

$266,000 

$400 

2$266,000 

Vessel  flsheries 
Transporting 

387 
10 

1,492 
122 

135 

2 

250 
10 

506 
122 

113,000 
3,500 

114,000 
36,000 

100 
300 

113,000 
3,500 

114,000 
36,000 

Shore  and 
boat  flsh- 
eries  

985 

1 

Lake  Michigan  dis- 
trict       

1,206 

639 

2 

665 

203,000 

300 

203.000 

Vessel  fisheries.. 
Transporting 

345 

3 

757 
101 

200 

126 

1 

218 

3 

243 
101 

106 

108,000 

200 

60,000 
34,000 

19,000 

100 
300 

(') 

108,000 
200 

Shore  and  boat 
flsheries 

513 

1 

60,000 
34,000 

Lake  Superior  dis- 
trict  

93 

1 

19,000 

Vessel  fisheries.. 
Tianspo  r  t  i  n  g 

42 

7 

130 
21 

605 

9 

1 

32 

7 

46 
21 

217 

4,700 

3,200 

9,500 
1,600 

44,000 

« 

4,600 
3,200 

Shore  and  boat 
fisheries 

S4 

9,500 
1,600 

Mississippi  River 
district  (shore  and 
boat  flsheries) 

388 

44,000 

of  the  total  capital  employed  in  the  fisheries  of  the  state 
and  of  each  district  in  1908: 


VALUE  OF  EQUIPMENT  AND  OTHER  CAPITAL:  1908. 

CLASS  OF  INVESTMENT. 

Total. 

Lake 
Michigan 
district. 

Mississippi 

River 

district. 

Lake 
Superior 
district. 

Total 

$1,100,000 

$934,000 

$82,000 

$84,000 

244,000 
235,000 
235,000 
187,000 

48,000 

0) 

9,000 

6,800 

2,200 

173,000 

154,000 

4,200 

13,000 

1,200 

407,000 

174,000 

233,000 

236,000 

40,000 

218,000 
218,000 
218,000 
173,000 

45,000 

(') 

500 

300 

200 

125,000 

116,000 

2,800 

4,300 

1,200 

336,000 

169,000 

167,000 

215,000 

40,000 

25,000 
17,000 
17,000 
14,000 
2,600 

Fishing 

steam  and  motor 

Vessels 

Outflt.     . 

Other 

Transportmg    (steam    and 
motor) 

8,600 
6,600 
2  000 

Vessels 

Outflt 

Boats 

34,000 
28,000 

15,000 
12,000 

Steam  and  motor 

Sail.     . 

1  400 

Row 

7,600 
40,000 

1,500 

Other 

.Apparatus  of  capture 

31,000 
4  500 

Vessel  fisheries  . 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries 

Shore  and  accessory  property . . . 
Cash 

40,000 
7,600 

28,000 
13,000 

1  Less  than  $100. 

The  value  of  vessels  and  boats,  including  their  out- 
fit, and  that  of  apparatus  of  capture  each  formed 
something  over  37  per  cent  of  the  total  investment, 
while  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory  property,  com- 
bined with  the  cash  reported,  amounted  to  25  per 
cent.  Of  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory  property 
$126,000  was  reported  for  shore  and  boat  fisheries  and 
$110,000  for  vessel  fisheries  and  transporting  vessels. 
The  amount  of  cash  invested  in  the  shore  and  boat 
fisheries  was  $20,000  and  that  in  the  vessel  fisheries 
$19,000.  The  shore  and  boat  fisheries  were  therefore 
credited  with  $553,000,  vessel  fisheries  with  $533,000, 
and  transporting  vessels  with  $14,000.  The  invest- 
ment in  the  Lake  Michigan  fisheries  represented  85. 
per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  state  and  comprised 
$427,000  invested  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  $507,000 
in  vessel  fisheries,  and  $500  in  transporting  vessels. 
Of  the  Lake  Superior  investment,  which  formed  less 
than  8  per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  state,  $54,000  per- 
tained to  shore  and  boat  fisheries,  $21,000  to  vessel 
fisheries,  and  $8,500  to  transporting  vessels. 

Nearly  one-half  of  the  investment  in  the  Mississippi 
River  district  represented  the  value  of  apparatus  of 
capture. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  statistics  con- 
cerning the  number  and  tonnage  of  vessels  and  the 
number  of  boats: 


1  Exclusive  of  42  pronrietors  not  flshing. 

2  Includes  provisions' furnished  to  the  value  of  $11,000. 

3  Less  than  $100. 

Equipment  and  other  capital. — The  following  tabular 
statement  gives  the  distribution,  by  class  of  investment, 


VESSELS  AND  BOATS:    1908. 

CLASS  OF  CRAFT. 

Total. 

Lake 

Michigan 
district. 

Mississippi 
River 

district. 

Lake 
Superior 
district. 

Vessels: 

Fishing- 
Steam  and  motor- 

85 
1,051 

1 

3 
144 
1,200 
360 
76 
739 
25 

80 
971 

1 

1 

5 

611 

222 

59 

307 

23 

B 

80 

Transporting— 

2 

139 

489 
106 

100 

32 

Sail                             

17 

Row           

381 
2 

61 

Other                                

272 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Statistics  as  to  the  number  of  the  more  important 
kinds  of  apparatus  of  capture  are  given  in  the  follow- 
ing tabular  statement : 


APPARATD3  OF  CAPTtJRE 

:  1908. 

KINU. 

Total. 

Distributed  by  districts. 

Distributed 
by  class  of 
fislieries. 

Lake 
Miclii- 
gan 
dis- 
trict. 

Missis- 
sippi 
River 
dis- 
trict. 

Lake 
Supe- 
rior 
dis- 
trict. 

Vessel 
fisli- 
eries. 

Shore 
and 
boat 
fish- 
eries. 

Crawfish  pots 

13,290 

5 

2,719 

30,291 

104 

1,200 

619 

384 

31 

13,290 

S 

2,172 

28,773 

7 

530 

267 

253 

7 

2,000 

11,290 
5 

Dip  nets 

Fyke  andhoopnets 

547 
425 

97 
670 
267 
128 

24 

"ij693 

536 
19,070 

2,183 

11,221 

104 

Gill  nets 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc 

Mink  and  muskrat  traps 

1,200 

Pound  and  trap  nets .... 

85 
3 

6 
240 

613 

Seines 

TrnjnTTipl  npt-q 

31 

All  the  vessels  and  all  but  a  small  number  of  the 
boats  were  power  craft.  Of  the  more  important  kinds 
of  apparatus  of  capture,  gill  nets  were  most  numerous, 
and  were  used  principally  in  the  vessel  fisheries. 

Products,  by  species. — Table  1,  on  page  274,  gives  sta- 
tistics relating  to  products,  by  species  and  by  apparatus 
of  capture.  Six  species — lake  trout,  herring,  buffalo 
fish,  whitefish,  yellow  perch,  and  German  carp — con- 
tributed 84  per  cent  of  the  total  product  for  the  state, 
while  their  value  formed  87  per  cent  of  the  total  value. 

Products,  by  fishing  grounds. — Tables  2,  3,  and  4,  on 
pages  275  and  276,  give  the  products,  respectively,  of 
the  Lake  Michigan,  the  Mississippi  River,  and  the  Lake 
Superior  districts.  The  latter  supphed  only  5  per  cent 
of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  product  of  the  state. 
Of  the  seven  species  which  made  up  the  product  of  this 
district,  lake  herring  and  trout  contributed,  respectively, 
53  per  cent  and  40  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  total 
catch  from  the  district. 

Products,  by  class  of  fisheries. — Tables  5  and  6,  on 
pages  276  and  277,  give,  by  species  and  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  statistics  as  to  the  products  of  the  vessel  and 
the  shore  and  boat  fisheries  of  the  state.  Similar  sta- 
tistics are  given  for  the  vessel  fisheries,  respectively, 
of  the  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Lake  Superior  districts, 
in  Tables  7  and  9;  and  for  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries of  the  respective  districts,  in  Tables  8  and  10. 
The  fisheries  of  the  Mississippi  River  district  were  all 
of  the  shore  and  boat  class. 


VALXTE  OF  products:  1908. 

SPECIES. 

Total. 

Vessel 
fisheries. 

Shore  and 

boat 
fisheries. 

Total 

Jl, 067,000 

$425,000 

8642,000 

Lake  trout 

340,000 
322,000 
103,000 
.';6,000 
55,000 
62,000 
137,000 

200,000 
173,000 

140,000 
150,000 

iai,ooo 

30,000 
39,000 
52.000 
127,000 

Lake  herring 

Buffalo  fish 

Whitefish 

20.000 

15.000 

800 

11,000 

Perch,  yeliow 

Carp,  German 

Another 

The  value  of  the  catch  made  in  the  vessel  fisheries 
and  that  of  the  catch  made  in  the  shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries formed  40  per  cent  and  60  per  cent,  respectively, 
of  the  value  of  the  total  state  product.  In  the  product 
of  the  vessel  fisheries  lake  trout  was  the  leading 
species  with  respect  to  value  and  lake  herring  ranked 
second,  while  in  the  catch  reported  for  the  shore  and 
boat  fisheries  the  order  of  these  species  was  reversed. 

Products,  by  apimratus  of  capture. — The  following 
tabular  statement  show^s  the  distribution  of  the  total 
value  of  products  according  to  apparatus  of  capture, 
for  the  state,  for  each  class  of  fisheries,  and  for  the 
three  districts : 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS. 


Total 

Gill  nets 

Pound  and  trap  nets 

Seines 

Lines 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Trammel  nets 

All  other 


VALUE   OF  PRODUCTS:   1908. 


Total. 


$1,067,000 


533,000 
208,000 
143,000 
92,000 
54,000 
7,200 
31,000 


Distributed  by  districts. 


Lake 
Michi- 
gan dis- 
trict. 


$794,000 


494,000 
142,000 
4,200 
85,000 
49,000 
3,500 
17,000 


Missis- 
sippi 
River 

district. 


Lake 

Supe- 
rior 
district 


$215,000 


7,700 
42,000 
138,000 
4,800 
4,500 
3,700 
14,000 


$.58,000 


32,000 

24,000 

600 

2,400 


Distributed  by 
class  ol  fisheries. 


Vessel 
fisheries. 


$425,000 


349,000 

6,000 

1,300 

57,000 

6,800 


4,700 


Shore 
and 
boat 
flsh- 


$642,000 


184,000 
202,000 
141,000 
35,000 
47,000 
7,200 
26.000 


LaTce  trout. — This  species,  which  contributed  32  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  fishery  products  of  the 
state,  was  taken  wholly  in  the  lakes,  93  per  cent  of  the 
quantity  reported  coming  from  Lake  Michigan.  Sta- 
tistics concerning  the  catch  as  reported  for  the  state  in 
previous  years  are  as  follows: 


LAKE^ROUT  PRODUCT. 

TEAR. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

4,710,000 
5,561.000 
3.514,000 
3,820,000 

$340,000 
262,000 

1903 

1899 

1890 

176,000 

Lalce  herring.— The  value  of  the  lake-herring  prod- 
uct in  1908  was  nearly  40  per  cent  greater  than  that 
of  the  largest  catch  previously  reported — the  catch  of 
1899 — though  the  weight  of  the  latter  was  greater  by 
343,000  pounds.  The  following  tabular  statement 
shows  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  catch  as  reported 
at  the  various  canvasses : 


TEAR. 

LAKE-HERRING 
PRODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908 

12,124,000 
11,801,000 
12,467,000 
3,798,000 

$322,000 
232,000 
236,000 
68,000 

1903 

1899 

1890 

FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 


273 


Buffalo  fish. — The  buffalo-fish  product,  all  of  which 
was  from  the  Mississippi  River  district,  ranked  third 
in  value  among  the  fishery  products  of  the  state.  Over 
80  per  cent  of  the  catch  was  taken  with  seines,  while 
pound  and  trap  nets  took  most  of  the  remainder.  The 
statistics  concerning  the  catch  for  certain  years  for 
which  figures  are  available  are  as  follows: 


BDfTALO-nSH 
PBODUCT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908  

3,178,000 
184,000 
211,000 

1103.000 

1899 

3,500 

1894 

4,700 

Whitefi^h. — These  fish,  wliich  were  taken  wholly 
from  the  lake  waters,  ranked  fourth  among  the  fishery 
products  of  the  state  in  value,  contributing  10  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  total  product  and  10  per  cent  of  the 
total  weight.  Besides  the  common  whitefish,  which 
was  sold  fresh,  smoked,  and  salted,  three  other  species 
were  handled,  namely,  the  bluefin,  the  longjaw,  and  the 
Menominee,  the  last  two  being  sold  in  both  a  fresh  and 
a  prepared  condition.  Whitefish  ranked  third  in 
value  among  the  products  of  Lake  Superior  and  fourth 
among  those  of  Lake  Michigan.  Over  20  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  reported  for  the  species  represented 
product  taken  in  the  former  district.  The  whitefish 
yield  was  much  less  in  1908  than  in  1890,  but  consider- 
ably more  than  in  the  years  subsequent  to  1890,  as 
shown  by  the  following  tabular  statement: 


WHITEnSH  PBODtJCT. 

YBAK. 

Quantity 

(X>OUQ(ls). 

Value. 

1908 

1,274.000 

1,047.000 

633,000 

2,188,000 

$56,000 

1903 

36,000 
20,000 
84,000 

1899 

1890 

YeUow  perch. — The  yellow  perch  reported  had  a 
value  nearly  equal  to  that  of  whitefish  and  represented 
5  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  products  for  the  state. 
In  Lake  Michigan,  where  over  99  per  cent  of  the  catch 
was  taken,  this  fish  composed  12  per  cent  of  the  total 
product.  Statistics  for  the  entire  state  are  not  avail- 
able for  a  series  of  years,  but  as  practically  the  entire 
catch  of  this  species  was  taken  in  Lake  Michigan,  com- 
parative figures  for  this  lake  are  given  in  the  following 
tabular  statement: 


TKAB. 

TEIiOW-PEECa  PBOD. 
UCT  OF  LAKE  UICHI. 
OAN. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Valoe. 

1908 

2,551,000 
2.638,000 
1,908,000 
1,008,000 

$.'>4,000 
44,000 

1903 

1899 

25  000 

1890 

21,000 

German  carp.  -This  species  ranked  sixth  among  the 
leading  species,  contributing  5  per  cent  of  the  total 
value.  Of  the  total  catch  of  this  fish,  85  per  cent  was 
taken  in  the  Mississippi  River  district  and  the  remain- 
der in  Lake  Michigan.  The  carp  product  has  increased 
almost  as  much  as  has  that  of  buffalo  fish,  and  the  two 
combined  not  only  account  for  the  gain  in  the  Missis- 
sippi River  product  since  1890,  but  counterbalance  the 
decrease  in  the  catch  of  certain  other  species,  notably 
wall-eyed  pike  and  sturgeon.  The  comparative  sum- 
mary given  below  is  for  the  Mississippi  River  district, 
since  statistics  for  that  district  only  are  available  for 
the  different  years  shown. 


TKAB. 

OEBUAN-CARP     PBOD- 

CCT  or  Missisaffpi 

WVEE  DISTEICT. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

1908.                                                        .              .                        .. 

1,914,000 

170,000 

6,900 

$46,000 

2,700 

200 

1899 

1894 

76786°— 11- 


-18 


274 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  1.— WISCONSIN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

TOTAL. 

GUI  nets. 

• 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Seines. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Trammel  nets. 

All  other  appa* 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

30,953,000 

$1,067,000 

12,481,000 

$533,000 

8,089,000 

$208,000 

4,996,000 

$143,000 

1,133,000 

$92,000 

2,449,000 

$54,000 

201,000 

$7,200 

1,545,000 

$31,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

13,000 
3,178,000 
2,247,000 

276,000 
10,000 

48,000 

1,096,000 

12,124,000 
42,000 

2,563,000 

317,000 

88,000 
30,000 

82,000 

900 

1,212,000 

75,000 
4,710,000 

292,000 

710,000 

121,000 

151,000 
9,400 

348,000 
14,000 
44,000 

1,150,000 

•100 

•1,000 

1,200 
103,000 
52,000 

20,000 
400 

400 

20,000 

322,000 
500 

55,000 

23,000 

6,900 
3,800 

4,400 

600 

24,000 

1,700 

340,000 

22,000 

29,000 

2,300 

3,400 
500 

14,000 
2,600 
1,000 

12,000 
400 
600 

400 
374,000 
123,000 

45,000 

17,000 
3,400 

3,900 

7,900 
2,653,000 
1,694,000 

101.000 
10,000 

43,000 

117,000 

4,400 

700 
81,000 
39,000 

6,800 
400 

400 

1,700 

100 

1,000 

3,500 

38,000 

36,000 

100 

100 

1,600 

3,300 

3,000 
28,000 
157,000 

87,000 

1 
4001               200 

300 
3,300 

300 

Buffalo  flsh 

110,000 
72,000 

2,800 

4,800 
1,800 

300 

800 
3,100 

4,900 

9,700 
159,000 

3,800 

Carp,  German.. 

Catfish     and 

bullheads 

3,600 
500 

200 
(■) 

1,800 

935,000 

5,066,000 
6,600 

229,000 

37,000 

78.000 
17,000 

4,200 

100 

275,000 

500 

571,000 

198,000 

64,000 

7,500 

51,000 
1,900 

(•) 

17,000 

82,000 
(') 

4,300 

2,400 

6,200 
1,800 

200 
(') 

5,100 
(') 
47,000 

15,000 

1,300 

100 

1,100 
100 

3,300 

14,000 

48,000 
26,000 

1,481,000 

107,000 

200 

600 
300 

26,000 

9,000 

fln  . 

2,300 

7,007,000 
8,700 

800,000 

56,000 

5,000 
1,100 

12,000 

240,000 
100 

22,000 

4,000 

400 
100 

800 

20,000 

1,000 

7,700 

200 

100 

Drum,      fresh- 

(») 

Ling,  or  lawyer . 

800 

23,000 

26,000 

600 
11,000 

1,200 
100 

(') 

1,600 

2,100 

(') 
1,800 

100 
(») 

Perch,  yellow... 

28,000 

85,000 

3,800 
700 

40,000 

700 

4,800 

300 
100 

2,200 

100 

5,700 

300 

(') 

400 
(") 

Pike  and  pick- 
erel  

Pike    perch 
(wall-eyedpike) 

Sturgeon,  shoT- 

500 

(») 

24,000 

800 

50,000 

1,100 

500 
1,100 

Caviar 

291,000 

8,000 

109,000 
73,000 

2,6o6 

1,700 

480,000 
1,900 
2,100 

100 

7,200 

C) 

6,800 

300 

Sunfish. . .  * 

3,168,000 

86,000 

646,000 

114,000 

98,000 
300 

213,000 

6,500 

28,000 

2,200 

2,200 

969,000 

80,000 

Whlteflsh 

8,200 

500 

Whit*fish,blu&- 
fin 

Whiteflsh,  long- 
law 

Whlteflsh,  Me- 
nominee 

2,100 
4,200 

100 
200 

Another 

1,200 
500 

100 

(«) 

1,700 

200 

Crawfish 

348,000 
14,000 
22,000 

1,150,000 

MOO 

•1,000 

14,000 

2,600 

Turtles. 

2,200 

(•) 

18,000 

400 

6,200 

100 

500 

Mussel  sheUs,pearls, 

12,000 

400 

Skins,  muskrat 

600 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crawfish  pots,  348,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000;  crowfoot  dredges,  1,130,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000;  mink  and  muskrat, 
traps,  1,000 pounds,  valued  at  $1,000;  spears  and  book8,25,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,000;  dip  nets,  11 ,000  pounds,  valued  at  $600;  and  minor  apparatus,  31,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $2,300. 

I  Leas  than  $100.  >  100  skins.  •3,000  skins. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  2. -WISCONSIN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


275 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SFECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Gill  nets. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Seines. 

AU  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

21,177,000 

1794,000 

11,137,000 

$494,000 

5,967,000 

»142,000 

1,000,000 

J86,000 

2,326,000 

$49,000 

208^000 

(4,200 

538,000 

$21,000 

Fish: 

4,500 
328,000 

4,500 
77,000 
20,000 

0,911,000 

327,000 

3,921,000 

42,000 

1,900 

2,551,000 

234,000 

4,000 

4,800 

12,000 

2,500 

987,000 

64,000 

4,302,000 

26,000 

113,000 
3,900 

707.000 
8,000 

90,000 

60.000 
3,500 

348,000 

13,000 

<500 

500 
6,700 

700 
3,400 

900 

236,000 

5,200 

67,000 

500 

200 

54,000 

18,000 

300 

200 

2,000 

500 

20,000 

800 

316,000 

900 

11,000 
200 

29,000 
500 

2,300 

1,100 
lOO 

14,000 

2,400 

200 

400 

(') 

1,000 
60O 

4,500 
800 

5,000 

lOO 

(') 
700 
100 
700 

3,000 
90,000 

400 
1,700 

(») 
84,000 

(') 
900 

Carp,  German,  fresh 

Carp,  German,  smoked 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

Herring,  lake,  fresh 

Herring,  lake,  salted 

Herring,  lake,  smoked 

8,000 

100 

140,000 

2,900 

100 
300 

5,991,000 

10,000 

291,000 

8.700 

200 

800,000 

50,000 

4,000 

100 

(') 
(») 

219,000 

200 

9,900 

100 

(') 

22,000 

4,000 

300 

(') 

5,000 

100 

67,000 
11,000 

46,000 

3,000 
100 

600 

2,000 
9,600 

100 
(') 

1,600 
200 

100 

873,000 

317,000 

3,630,000 

0,600 

16,000 
6,000 

57,000 
(') 

800 
200 

23,000 
26,000 

^'1 

1,600 
2,100 

26,000 
1,100 

1,481,000 
104,000 

300 

100 

26,000 
8,800 

500 

16,000 
21,000 

300 
1,500 

Perch,  yellow  . 

229,000 
22,000 

4,000 
1,500 

100 
6,000 

(•) 

800 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

1,700 
5,000 

100 
700 

3,000 

100 

Sturgeon,  lake,  fresh 

Sturgeon,  lake,  smoked 

7,000 
2,500 

1,200 
500 

279,000 

3,400 

2,895,000 

12,000 

29,000 

200 

643,000 

8,000 

68,000 

30,000 

7,800 
C) 
197,000 
500 

3,000 

28.000 
600 

1,600 

500 

131,000 
63,000 

476,000 
14,000 

85,000 
3,700 
64,000 

2,900 

700 

42,000 

400 

7,900 

200 

1,300 

474,000 
6,800 
2,100 

7,200 
100 

100 

72,000 
2,300 

i,4o6 
(•) 

30,000 

700 

929,000 

78,000 

100 

(') 

Whiteflsh  salted 

Whiteflsli.bluerm 

Whiteflsh,  longjaw 

Whiteflsh,  Menominee, 
fresh 

20,000 

30,000 
300 

600 
600 

2,100 

100 

Whiteflsh,  Menominee, 

ikll  other 

3,200 

(■«■) 

.  600 

(') 

348,000 

13,000 

*600 

14,000 

2,400 

200 

1  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crawfish  pots,  348,000  pounds,  valued  at  $14,000;  trammel  nets,  166,000  pounds,  valued  at  $3,500;  dip  nets,  11,000  pounds, 
valued  at  $600;  spears  and  hooks,  2,200  poimds,  valued  at  $300;  mink  and  muskrat  traps,  600  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  minor  apparatus,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,100, 
'  Less  than  $100.  '  Less  than  100  pounds.  <  1,600  skins. 


Table  3 WISCONSIN— FISHERY  PRODUCTS  OF  MISSISSIPPI  RIVER  DISTRICT:'  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAL. 

Seines. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

All   other   appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

7,958,000 

$216,000 

4,773,000 

$138,000 

1,509,000 

$42,000 

192,000 

$7,700 

92,000 

$4,800 

123,000 

$4,600 

1,268,000 

$17,000 

Fish: 

8,100 

3,178,000 

1,914,000 

200,000 

10,000 

47,000 

1,070,000 

1,600 

12,000 

83,000 

4,700 

800 

6,300 

82,000 

900 

72,000 

73,000 

1,200 

44,000 

1,150,000 

<100 

»600 

700 

103,000 

46,000 

16,000 

400 

400 

19,000 

100 

400 

4,400 

400 

« 

500 
4,400 

600 
1,500 
1,700 

200 

1,000 

12,000 

400 

400 

7,900 
2,653,000 
1,611,000 
i      99,000 

10,000 
43,000 
107,000 

700 

81,000 

38,000 

6,700 

400 

400 

1,700 

200 

9,700 

22,000 

2,800 

(•) 

374,000 
123,000 
40,000 

17,000 
3,400 
3,800 

110,000 
64,000 
2,700 

4,800 

1,700 

300 

3,600 
33,000 
36,000 

100 

700 

3,300 

28,000 
61,000 
19,000 

800 
1,400 
1,900 

300 

Carp,  German,   .                     

600 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

300 

1,800 
935,000 

17,000 

2,000 

3,000 

100 

Drum,  or  sheepshead  . . 

2,000 

(.') 

16,000 
1,600 

300 
100 

7,600 

200 

Eels 

12,000 

04,000 

3,800 

800 

700 
40,000 

400 

.3,300 

30O 

m 

100 
2,200 

100 
16,000 

''L 

300 

(.') 

3,000 

200 

800 
300 

S 

Pike  perch  (wa!l-eyed  pike) 

600 

(>) 

2,  COO 
4,200 

100 
11,000 

500 

300 
200 

200 

1,100 
12,000 

100 
800 

1,900 

1,200 

100 

100 
100 

m 

sturgeon,  shovelnose. . . . 

600 

(») 

24,666 

800 

26,000 

1,100 

500 

35,000 
73,000 

COO 
1,700 

400 

(•) 

700 

1,200 

22,000 

1,160,000 

MOO 

'500 

200 

is, 666 

400 

2,200 

m 

5,200 

100 

500 

Mussel  sliells,  pearls,  and  slugs 

Skins  mink 

12,000 

400 

400 

1  All  takfn  in  shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

2  Intaudes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crowfoot  dredges,  1,130,000  iwunds,  valued  at  |I2,000;  trammel  nets.  95,000  poimds,  valued  at  $3,700;  mink  and  muskrat 


traps,  500  pounds,  valued  at  $700;  spears  and  hook*,  23,000  pounds,  valued  at  $700;  and  minor  apparatus,  20,000  pounds,  valued  at  $200. 
I  Less  than  $100.  '  100  skins. 


•  1,400  skina. 


276 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Tablb  4.— WISCONSIN— fishery  PRODUCTS  OP  LAKE  SUPERIOR  DISTRICT:  1908. 


Total. 


Herring,  lake,  fresh 

Herring ,  lake,  salted 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) . 
Sturgeon,  lake 


Suckers,  fresh... 
Suckers,  salted. 

Trout,  fresh 

Trout,  salted... 


Whlteflsh,  fresh 

Whiteflsh,  salted 

Whlteflsh,  bluefln 

Whiteflsh,  longjaw,  fresh 

Whlteflsh,  longjaw,  smoked. 
Another 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,817,000 


135,000 

830,000 

79,000 

9,400 

30,000 

59,000 

373,000 

9,200 

168,000 
6,100 
3,300 

111,000 
1,900 
2,100 


Value. 


$58,000 


1,100 

13,000 

6,200 

800 

500 

1,000 

23,000 

400 

10,000 
200 
100 
1,700 
100 
100 


PBODUCT  CAUGHT  BY — 


am  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,152,000 


114,000 

602,000 

1,000 


8,300 

252,000 

9,000 

37,000 

600 

3,300 

104,000 

1,900 

300 


Value. 


»32,000 


900 

9,800 

100 


200 

15,000 

300 

3,500 

P) 

100 

1,600 

100 

(') 


Pound  and  trap  nets. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


612,000 


21,000 

224,000 

78,000 

9,400 

30,000 

60,000 

81,000 

200 

104,000 
5,400 


7,500 

i.'soo 


Value. 


124,000 


300 
3,300 
6,200 

800 

600 

800 

5,000 

6,400 
200 


100 

ioo' 


All  other  apparatus.! 


Quantity         y  , 
(pounds).         ^*'"*- 


53,000 


4,400 


600 
40,000 


8,000 
200 


t3,aao 


100 


(•) 


2,400 


(') 


soo 


>  Includes  seines,  with  a  catch  of  13,000  pounds,  valued  at  $600;  and  lines,  with  a  catch  of  40,000  pounds,  valued  at  t2,400. 
«  Less  than  100  pounds. 

>  Less  than  tlOO. 

Table  5.— WISCONSIN— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES:  1908. 


PBODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

Gill  nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Pound  and  trap  nets. 

All  other  apparatus.' 

Quaatity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

8,863,000 

$425,000 

7,561,000 

$349,000 

341,000 

$6,800 

99,000 

$6,000 

862,000 

$63,000 

Fish: 

61,000 

3,200 

4,129,000 

414,000 

69,000 

10,000 

731,000 

51,000 

2,400 

91,000 

2,731,000 

4,500 

24,000 

388,000 

60,000 

4,800 

109,000 

800 

100 

161,000 

6,900 

6,100 

100 

15,000 

3,600 

200 

1,700 

200,000 

200 

2,400 

22,000 

1,100 

100 

4,700 

8,000 

100 

4,094,000 

414,000 

54,000 

5,000 

460,000 

34,000 

800 

20,000 

2,018,000 

4,600 

12,000 

388,000 

50,000 

500 

100 

(») 

160,000 

6,900 

4,900 

100 

11,000 
2,300 
(') 
600 

139,000 

200 

1,200 

22,000 

1,100 

(') 

8,600 

2,800 

200 

200 
100 

44,000 
200 

400 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

(•) 

36,000 
1,000 
6,600 

600 
300 

Herring,  lake,  salt^ 

4,900 

257,000 

15,000 

m 

4,500 
1,200 

100 

14,000 

1,400 

(') 

Percn,  yellow 

300 

100 

Pike  i)erch  (wall-eyed  pike) 

1,600 
200 

43,000 

100 
(•) 

3,800 

Suckers 

51,000 

700 

20,000 
671,000 

500 

Trout  fresh  .... 

67,000 

Trout,  salt«d 

Whiteflsh 

12,000 

1,200 

Whiteflsh,  bluefln 

Whiteflsh,  longjaw 

All  other 

1,700 

100 

800 

(•) 

1,900 
109,000 

4,700 

Crawfish 

>  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Lines,  671,000  pounds,  valued  at  (57,000;  crawfish  pots,  100,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,700:  and  seines,  82,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $1,300. 

I  Less  than  $100. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  6.— WISCONSIN— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES:  1908. 


277 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES, 

TOTAL. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Gill  nets. 

Seines. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus.' 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poimds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Tolal.     . 

22,090,000 

{642,000 

7,990,000 

$202,000 

4,920,000 

J184,000 

4,913,000 

1141,000 

2,108,000 

M7,000 

462,000 

$35,000 

1,697,0«0 

133,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

12,000 

3,178,000 

2,182,000 

4,600 

273,000 

10,000 

48,000 

1,093,000 

1,600 

2,917,000 

743,000 

3,862,000 

32,000 

1,300 

1,831,000 

267,000 

86,000 

5,600 

28,000 

2,500 

82,000 

900 

998,000 

123,000 

75,000 

1,943,000 

31,000 

300 

257,000 
10,000 

322,000 

69,000 

1,900 

90,000 

61,000 

239,000 

14,000 

+»,000 

1,150,000 

<100 

» 1,000 

1,200 

103,000 

51,000 

700 

19,000 

400 

400 

20,000 

100 

77,000 

11,000 

62,000 

40O 

100 

39,000 

19,000 

6,700 

200 

3,300 
500 

4,400 

600 

20,000 

1,900 

1,700 
139,000 
1,100 
(•) 

19,000 

600 

6,600 

1,000 

100 

2,300 

1,100 

9,200 

2,600 

1,000 

12,000 

400 

600 

400 

374,000 
123,000 

(») 
17,000 
3,400 

7,900 
2,653,000 
1,650,000 

700 
81,000 
39,000 

2,800 
28,000 
148,600 

300 

800 
2,900 

1,000 
3,500 

34,000 
4,500 

36,000 

100 
100 
800 
70O 
3,300 

200 

9,700 

162,000 

3,  so* 

Buffalo  fish    . 

110,000 
64,000 

4,800 
1,700 

Carp,  German,  fresh 

Carp,  German,  smoked 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

Crappie 

45,000 

3,900 

2,700 

300 

101,000 

10,000 
43,000 
115,000 

6,800 

400 

400 

1,700 

84,000 

4,800 

4,400 

400 

I,80O 
935,000 

17,000 

3,300 

13,000 

100 

46,000 

('■) 

200 
(•) 

600 

Drum,  or  sheepshead 

Eels 

2,000 

(•) 

20,000 
1,600 

1,000 
IOO 

7,800 

200 

Herring,  lake,  fresh 

860,000 

540,000 

3,626,000 

6,600 

16,000 

8,300 

57.000 

2,011,000 

198,000 

237,000 

3,700 

60,000 
3,000 
5,000 
(') 

Herrini;,  lake,  salted 

4,400 

100 

HerrinR,  lake,  smoked 

21,000 
900 

1,224,000 
92,000 

300 
100 

22,000 
7,800 

700 
200 

23,000 

26,000 

600 

1,600 
2,100 

Muskallunge 

200 

14,000 

84,000 

3,800 

800 

700 

(•) 

400 
4,700 

300 
(') 

100 

Perch,  yellow .... 

229,000 

37,000 

77,000 

1,700 

17,000 

4,300 

2,400 

6,100 

100 

1,800 

340,000 

22,000 

4,200 

iOO 

1,100 

11,000 
1,600 
300 
(') 

100 

100 

5,700 

300 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike). 

Eock  bass 

.   3,000 

100 

Sturgeon,  lake,  fresh 

8,900 

2,500 

1,200 

100 

1,300 
500 
100 

Sturgeon,  lake,  smoked 

Sturgeon,  shovelnose 

Caviar 

4,200 

100 

172,000 

103,000 

500 

614,000 

14,000 

300 

176,000 

9,100 

64,000 

7,500 

200 
(') 

3,600 
1,500 

(') 
43,000 
400 
(') 

13,000 

400 

1,300 

100 

12,000 

800 

40,000 

2,200 

600 

(') 

24,000 

800 

67,000 

1,100 
500 

Suckers,  fresh 

259,000 
12,000 

7,300 
200 

87,000 
2,900 

73,000 

1,600 
IOO 

1,700 

424,000 
5,800 

1,800 
2,100 

6,600 
100 

(») 
100 

1,400 

Suckers,  salted 

Rnnnsh 

Trout,  fresh 

1,129,000 
17,000 

73,000 
700 

298,000 

23,000 

Trout,  salted 

White  bass 

(•) 
100 

(■) 

WhiteBsh,  fresh 

73,000 

700 

258,000 

62,000 

1,900 

68,000 

30,000 

6,300 

(') 

5,300 
900 
100 

1,600 

500 

8,000 
200 

600 

Whitcfish,  salted 

Whitcfish,  bluefln 

Whjtefish,  longjaw,  fresh. . . 

Whitefish,  Menominee,  fresh 

20,000 
30,000 

600 
600 

2,100 

100 

Whitcfish,    Menominee, 
salted 

Crawfish 

SOO 

(') 

238,000 

14,000 

22,000 

1,160,000 

<100 

'1,000 

9,200 

2,600 

500 

Frogs 

Turtles 

2,200 

(') 

15,000 

400 

5,200 

100 

Mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs. . . 

12,000 

Skin.s,mink 

400 

Rlrins,  "luskrat 

600 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch  as  follows;  Crowfoot  dredges,  1,130,000  pounds,  valued  at  $12,000;  crawfish  pots,  238,000  poonds,  valued  at  $9,200;  trammel  nets, 
261,000  pounds,  valued  at  87,200;  mink  and  muskrat  traps,  1 ,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,000,  spears  and  hoolcs,  25,000  pounds,  valued  at  $1,000-  dip  nets,  11,000  pounds,  valued 
at  $600;  and  minoi*  apparatus,  31,000  pounds,  valued  at  S2,300. 

'  Less  than  $100.  '  Less  than  IOO  pounds.  <  100  skins.  •  3,000  skins. 


278  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  7.— WISCONSIN— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES  OF  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BY— 

SPECIES. 

TOTAl. 

Gill  nets. 

Lines. 

Kyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Crawfish  pots. 

Seines. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

rjuantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
X  pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds).; 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Valae. 

Tota». 

8.262,000 

1414,000 

6,964.000. 

?338,000 

070.000 

$57,000 

341,000 

56,800 

96,000 

$5,800 

109.000 

$4,700 

82.000 

$1,300 

Fish: 

61,000 
3,200 
4,042.000 
59.000 
10,000 

731,000 

61,000 

91,000 

2,682,000 

22,000 

388,000 

8,000 

4,800 

109,000 

800 

100 

160,000 

5,100 

100 

15,000 

3,000 

1,700 

197,000 

2.300 

22,000 

500 

100 

4,700 

8,000 

100 

4,007,000 

54,000 

5,000 

460,000 

34,000 

20,000 

1,970,000 

9,600 

388,000 

8,000 

500 

100 

(') 

160,000 

4,900 

100 

11,000 

2,300 

500 

136,000 

1,000 
22,000 
500 
(') 

8,000 

2,800 

200 

200 
100 
(') 

44,000 
200 

400 

Catfish  and  bullheads 

(') 

35,000 
8,500 

600 
300 



Herring,  lake,  smoked 

100 

(') 

4,900 

257,000 
15,000 
51,000 

(') 

4.500 

1,200 

700 

Perch,  yellow ... 

14,000 

1,400 

20,000 

300 

100 

Suckers...              

200 
42,000 

12,000 

3,800 
1,200 

600 

670,000 

57,000 

Whitefish 

Whitefish,  bluefin 

All  other 

1,700 

100 

800 

(') 

1,900 

(') 

109,000 

4,700 

1 

'  Less  than  $100. 
Table  8.— WISCONSIN— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF  LAKE  MICHIGAN  DISTRICT:  1908. 


PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BT— 

SFECIKS. 

TOTAL. 

GUI  nets. 

Pound  and  trap 
nets. 

Fyke  and  hoop 
nets. 

Lines.             Trammel  nets. 

Seines. 

All  other  appa- 
ratus." 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

.Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Total 

12,915,000 

$381,000 

4,173.000 

$156,000 

5,871,000 

$136,000 

1,985,000 

$42,000 

330.000 

$28,000       160.000 

$3,600 

127,000 

$2,900 

263,000 

$12,000 

Fish: 

Black  bass 

4,200 

267,000 

4,600 

74,000 

23,000 

2,869,000 

327,000 

3,862.000 

32,000 

1,300 

1,819,000 
183,000 

4,000 
4,700 

12,000 

2,600 

896,000 

64,000 

1,620,000 

500 
4,900 

700 
3,200 

900 

76,000 

5,200 

62,000 
400 
100 

39,000 
15,000 

300 
200 

2,000 

.WO 

18,000 

800 

120.000 

400 

(') 

2,800 
87,000 

300 
1,500 

1,000 
500 

4,500 
800 

5.000 

100 

m 

700 
100 
700 

(•) 
40,000 

(') 
600 

Carp,  German, 
fresh            

136,000 

2,700 

3,60D 

200 

Carp,   German, 
smoked 

Catfish  and  bull- 
heads  

5,000 

100 

65,000 
9,600 
46,000 

2.900 
100 
600 

1,100 
200 

100 

(") 

1,700 
8,000 

100 

(') 

500 
100 

(») 

Drum,  or  sheeps- 

(') 

Herring,lake,freah. 
Herring,   lake. 

1,984,000 

10.000 

237,000 
3,700 

60,000 

200 

5,000 
(') 

839,000 

317,000 

3,625,000 
6,600 

16,000 

5,100 

57,000 
(') 

Herring,  lake. 

Ling,  or  lawyer... 
Muskallunge 

Perch,  yellow 

Pike  and  pickerel.. 
Pike  perch  (wall- 
eyed pike) 

2i,666 

900 

1,224.000 
89,000 

366 

100 

22,000 
7,700 

700 
200 

23.000 
26,000 

1,600 
2,100 

200 

2,500 
20,000 

m 
(') 

1,400 

340,000 
22,000 

4,000 
100 

11,000 
1,600 

300 
(') 

229,000 
22,000 

4,300 
1,600 

100 
5,000 

(.) 

.300 

1,700 
4,900 

100 
700 

3,000 

100 

Sturgeon,  lake. 

7,000 
2,500 

1,200 
500 

Sturgeon,  lake, 
smoked  . 

Suckers,  fresh 

259,000 
3,400 

925,000 

12,000 

19,000 

200 

256,000 

68,000 

30,000 

7,300 
(') 

61,000 

131,666 

9  9m 

423,000 
5,800 

2,100 

0,500 
100 

100 

24,000 

400 

52.000 
2,300 

900 

m 

6,800 

300 

63,000          700 

4.'!3.00fl 

38,000 

400 

6,700 

2nn 

259,000 

21,000 

Trout,  salted 

26,000:          900 

600;         14,000 
2,000          72.000 

Whitefish,  fresh... 

91,000 
3,900 

319,000 

89,000 

60,000 
3,600 

239,000 

8,700 
200 

6,500 

2,300 

1,100 
100 

Q  9m 

100 

(') 

Whitefish,  salted. 

(') 

5,200 

1,600 

SOO 

3,700 

• 

Whitefish,  bluefin 

64,000;      1..300 

Whitefish,  Menom- 

19,000 

30,000 
300 

600 

600 
(') 

2,100 

100 

Whltefish,  Menom- 

A 11  other 

3,200 

(«) 

Crawfish 

600 

(') 

238,000 
13,000 

«500 

9,200 

13,000       2,400 
•  500           200 

2,400 

Skins,  mink  and  musk- 
rat 

200 

'  Includes  apparatus,  with  catch,  as  follows:  Crawfish  pots,  238.000  pounds,  valued  at  $9,200;  dip  nets,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $600;  spears  and  hooks,  2,200  poundi, 
valued  at  S:i(X);  mink  and  inuskrat  traps,  500  pounds,  valued  at  $200:  and  minor  apparatus,  11,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,100. 

>  Less  than  $100.  >  Less  than  100  pounds.  <  1,600  sklna. 


FISHERIES,  BY  STATES. 

Table  9,— WISCONSIN— PRODUCTS  OF  VESSEL  FISHERIES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  DISTRICT:  1908. 


279 


Total.. 


Herring,  late,  fresh 

Herring,  lake,  .salted 

Pike  perch  (wall-eyed  pike) . 

Trout,  fresh 

Trout,  salted 

Whiteflsh 

Whitefish,  longjaw 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


601,000 


87,000 

414,000 

2,400 

49,000 
4,500 
2,500 

42,000 


Value. 


$11,000 


600 
6,900 
200 
3,000 
200 
200 
600 


PKODUCT  CACOHT  BT— 


Gill  nets. 


Quantity 
(poimd,s). 


597,000 


87,000 

414,000 

800 

47.000 

4,500 

2,500 

42,000 


Value. 


$11,000 


500 

6,900 

(') 

2,900 

200 

200 

600 


An  other  apparatus.' 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,000 
1,600 
1,500 


Value. 


$200 


(') 


100 
lOp 


>  Includes  pound  nets,  with  a  catch  of  3,100  pounds,  valued  at  $200;  and  lines,  with  a  catch  of  1 ,000  pounds,  valued  at  $100.  »  Less  than  $100. 

Table  10.— WISCONSIN— PRODUCTS  OF  SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES  OF  LAKE  SUPERIOR  DISTRICT:  1908. 


TOTAL. 

PRODUCT  CAUGHT  BT— 

SPECIES. 

Pound  and 

trap  nets. 

GiU  nets. 

All  other  apparatua.i 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

1,216,000 

$47,000 

609,000 

$23,000 

555,000 

$20,000 

52,000 

$2,900 

48,000 
415,000 
77,000 
9,400 
30,000 
59,000 

324,000 
4,700 

166,000 
6,100 

3,300 

69,000 

1,900 

2,100 

600 

6,200 

6,100 

800 

500 

1,000 

20,000 
200 

10,000 
200 

100 

1,000 

100 

100 

21,000 
223f000 
77,000 
9,400 
30,000 
50,000 

80,000 

200 

104,000 

5,400 

,             300 

3,200 

6,100 

800 

500 

800 

5,000 
200 

27,000 
188,000 
200 
(•) 

300 
2,900 
(') 
(') 

RpTT'Tic,  Ii^irp,  saU.wl. .  , 

4,400 

100 

Sturgeon,  lake 

8,300 

204,000 

4,400 

54,000 

500 

3,300 

62,000 

1,900 

300 

200 

12,000 
200 
3,300 
(') 

100 
900 
100 

(«) 

600 
39,000 

(') 
2,400 

Trout,  salted...                             

Whiteflsh,  fresh 

8,000 
200 

900 

Whitefl.sh,  salted...             ; 

(') 

Whiteflsh,  bluefln . .             

WhitelLsh,  longjaw,  fresh 

7,600 

100 

Whitefish,  longjaw,  smoked 

AU  other 

1,800 

100 

I  Includes  lines,  with  a  catch  of  39,000  pounds,  valued  at  $2,400;  and  seines,  with  a  catch  of  13,000  pounds,  valued  at  $600. 

« Less  than  $100. 

•  Less  than  100  pounds. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
CANNING  AND  PEESERVING. 


Comparison  with  earlier  canvasses. — The  earliest 
year  for  which  separate  statistics  of  the  industries  of 
canning  and  preserving  fish  and  oysters  are  available 
is  1870.  At  the  census  for  that  year  there  were 
reported  under  the  heads  " Fish,  cured  and  packed" 
and  "Oysters,  canned,"  92  estabhshments  which  em- 
ployed in  all  2,441  persons  and  had  a  combined  capital 
of  $966,000  and  products  valued  at  $3,064,000.  No 
figures  are  obtainable  for  1880,  as  the  reports  for  the 
canning  and  preserving  of  fish  and  oysters  in  that  year 
were  included  with  the  reports  of  other  industries. 
The  following  table  presents  a  comparative  summary 
of  the  statistics  of  establishments  engaged  in  canning 
and  preserving  fish  and  oysters  in  the  United  States, 
exclusive  of  Alaska,  as  returned  at  the  censuses  of 
manufactures  in  1890,  1900,  and  1905,  and  thfe  census 


of  fisheries  in  1908.  The  figures  obtained  at  the  cen- 
suses of  manufactures  represent  industries  classified 
under  the  head  of  "Canning  and  preserving,  fish," 
and  "Canning  and  preserving,  oysters." 

Fishery  products  are  preserved  to  some  extent  in 
estabhshments  engaged  primarily  in  the  manufacture 
of  other  products.  It  is  also  true  that,  in  the  censuses 
of  manufactures,  products  other  than  those  of  the 
fisheries  are  included  with  industries  classified  as 
"Canning  and  preserving,  fish"  and  "Carming  and  pre- 
serving, oysters."  In  the  census  of  fisheries  for  1908, 
reports  were  secured  covering  only  that  part  of  the 
operations  of  those  establishments  which  pertained 
to  the  fisheries.  For  these  reasons  the  figures  for 
1908  are  not  strictly  comparable  with  those  for  prior 
years. 


Number  of  establishments  ^ 

Capital 

Persons  employed  ' 

Salaried  employees 

Wage-earners 

Men  16  years  and  over 

Women  16  years  and  over. 
Children  under  16  years. .. 

Salaries  and  wages 

Salaries 

Wages 

Men  16  years  and  over 

Women  16  years  and  over. 
Children  under  16  years . . . 

Value  of  products 

Fish,  oysters,  etc 

All  other  producte 


1908 


124,124,000 

16,305 

1,054 

15,251 

8,918 

5,184 

1,149 

15,399,000 

$1,162,000 

U,  247, 000 

»3, 175, 000 

$946, 000 

$126, 000 

$28,401,000 

$24,885,000 

$3,517,000 


1905 


379 

$12,177,000 

9,241 

796 

8,445 

4,402 

2,972 

1,071 

$3,542,000 

$702,000 

$2,840,000 

$2,079,000 

$634,000 

$127,000 

$22,628,000 

$21,538,000 

$1,090,000 


1900 


333 

$16,693,000 

13, 185 

587 

12,598 

8,228 

3,037 

1,333 

$3,807,000 

$592,000 

$3,215,000 

$2,641,000 

$431,000 

$143,000 

$19,431,000 

$17, 262, 000 

$2,169,000 


1890 


126 

$4,294,000 

8,710 

243 

8,473 

5,269 

2,543 

661 

$1,961,000 

$190,000 

$1,771,000 

$1,290,000 

$437,000 

$43,000 

$10,233,000 

(<) 

(<) 


PEK  CENT  or  mCSEASE. 


1905  to 
1908 


76 
32 
81 

103 
75 
7 
52 
64 
60 
S3 
49 
1 
26 
16 

123 


1900  to 
1906 


14 
S27 
130 

36 
2  34 
246 

22 
220 

26 

20 
2  12 
2  21 

47 
2  12 

16 

25 
»50 


1890  to 
1900 


164 
289 

50 
142 

49 

56 

19 
102 

94 
207 

82 
105 

21 
231 

90 


'  Exclusive  of  the  canneries  and  salteries  of  Alaska,  for  statistics  of  which  see  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  Doc.  No.  645. 

2  Decrease. 

*  Not  including  proprietors  and  firm  members  except  in  1890  when  they  were  not  reported  separately, 

<  Not  reported  separately. 


In  the  number  of  establishments  and  in  the  value 
of  products  there  were  increases  during  each  period. 
From  1905  to  1908  the  former  increased  82  per  cent 
and  the  latter  20  per  cent.  The  apparent  decreases 
from  1900  to  1905  in  the  number  of  wage-earners  and 
in  wages  may  be  attributed  to  a  difference  in  the 
methods  used  at  the  two  censuses  for  reporting  con- 
tract labor,  which  is  extensively  employed,  especially 
in  the  salmon  canneries.  In  1900  contract  employees 
were  reported  as  wage-earners,  while  in  1905  and  in 
1908  their  number  was  not  reported,  the  wage  item 
being  included  under  the  head  of  "Miscellaneous  ex- 
penses" in  1905  and  under  the  head  of  "Cost  of  ma- 
terial" in  1908.  From  1905  to  1908  the  number  of 
wage-earners  increased  81  per  cent,  but  in  the  amount 
(280) 


of  wages  paid  the  increase  was  only  50  per  cent.  In 
capital  invested  there  was  a  decrease  of  $4,516,000 
from  1900  to  1905,  which  resulted  principally  from  a 
loss  of  $6,312,000  in  Maine,  apparently  due  to  a  re- 
organization of  some  of  the  larger  establishments,  and 
a  loss  of  $1,012,000  in  Oregon.  From  1905  to  1908  the 
amount  of  capital  increased  98  per  cent.  The  invest- 
ment of  1908  represents  an  outlay  of  $3,417,000  for 
land,  $10,288,000  for  buildings,  and  cash  amounting 
to  $10,420,000. 

Statistics,  by  geographic  divisions. — The  table  fol- 
lowing shows,  for  the  principal  items  of  the  statistics, 
the  distribution  by  geographic  divisions.  These  divi- 
sions correspond  with  those  which  appear  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapters  on  fishery  products. 


CANNING  AND  PRESERVING. 


281 


Number  of  establishments ' 

Capital 

Land 

Buildings 

Cash 

Persons  employed 

Proprietors  and  firm  members 

Salaried  employees 

Wage-earners 

Men  16  years  and  over 

Women  16  years  and  over. 
Children  under  16  years. . . 

Salaries  and  wages 

Salaries 

Wages 

Men  16  years  and  over 

Women  16  years  and  over. 
Children  under  16  years. . . 
Products: 

Quantity  (pounds) 

Value 


United 
States. 


t24, 124,000 

«,  417, 000 

110,288,000 

$10,420,000 

17,202 

897 

1,054 

15,251 

8,918 

6,184 

1,149 

$5,399,000 

$1, 152.  000 

$4,247,000 

$3,175,000 

$946,000 

$126, 000 

468,947,000 
$28,401,000 


Atlantic 

coast 
division. 


464 
$11,937,000 

$1,462,000 

$4,878,000 

$5,598,000 

11,683 

646 

618 

10,419 

6.084 

3.632 

703 

$3, 320, 000 

$042, OOO 

$2, 678, 000 

$1,903,000 

$701,000 

$74,000 

359,668,000 
$18,741,000 


QuK  of 
Mexico 
division. 


36 

$2,466,000 

$242,000 

$1,. 331, 000 

$893,000 

3,i06 

72 

U7 

2,886 

1.103 

1,370 

413 

$620,000 

$130, 0(» 

$490,000 

$257,000 

$185,000 

$47,000 

26,461,000 
$2, 404,  OOO 


Pacific  coast 
division. 


99 

$8,713,000 

$1,440,000 

$3,791,000 

$3,483,000 

2,103 

90 

244 

1,769 

1,554 

182 

33 

$1,316,000 

$3.33,000 

$983, 000 

$919,000 

$59.  (WO 

$4,900 

73,257,000 
$0,450,000 


Great  Lakes 
division. 


83 

$1,003,000 

$271,000 

$287,000 

$445,000 

296 

77 

45 

174 

174 


$142,000 
$47,000 
$94,000 
$94,000 


9,536,000 
$788,000 


Mississippi 

Klver 
division. 


8 

$6,200 
$2,200 
$1,200 
$1,800 
IS 
12 


$1,700 


$1,700 
$1,700 


137,000 
$19,000 


I  Exclusive  of  the  canneries  and  salterles  of  Alaska,  for  the  statistics  of  which  see  Report  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  Doc.  No.  645. 


The  Atlantic  coast  division  ranked  first  in  the  in- 
dustiy,  reporting  nearly  half  of  the  capital  and  ap- 
proximately two- thirds  of  the  number  of  establish- 
ments and  of  the  value  of  products.  The  Pacific 
coast  division  was  second  in  the  number  of  establish- 
ments, capital,  and  value  of  products,  and  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  division  was  second  in  the  number  of  persons 
employed.  The  schedule  used  in  the  canvass  of  the 
packing  and  canning  establishments  called  for  the 
quantity  of  fresh  fish  received  at  the  plants,  to  be  re- 
ported in  pounds.  The  data  furnished  as  a  result  of 
this  inquiry  were,  however,  so  incomplete  and  unsat^ 
isfactory  that  no  use  could  be  made  of  them. 

Products,  hy  kind. — The  next  tabular  statement 
gives  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  principal  kinds  of 
products  prepared,  arranged  in  order  of  value,  together 
with  the  proportion  which  each  contributed  to  the 
value  of  all  products. 

Salmon,    sardines,    cod,    and    oysters    contributed 


slightly  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  value  of  the  entire 
output. 


\ 

CANNINO  AND  PBESEBVmG,  nSH  AND  OTSTEBS— 
PBODUCTS:  1908. 

Kran  OF  PRODUCT. 

Quantity. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Amount. 

Per  cent 
distribu- 
tion. 

Total 

468,947,000 

100 

$28,401,000 

100 

Fish,  oysters,  ef/*. 

340,086,000 
57,461,000 
72,323,000 
60,979,000 
46,593,000 
3,772,000 
18,204,000 
12,362,000 
6,261,000 
62,130,000 

128,861,000 

73 
12 
15 
13 
10 
1 
4 
3 
1 

13 
27 

24,885,000 

5,966,000 

6,311,000 

4,557,000 

3,428,000 

742,000 

667,000 

694,000 

480,000 

3,139,000 

3,617,000 

88 

21 

Sardines 

19 

Cod 

16 

Oysters                           .  . .  - 

12 

3 

Herring             .           

2 

Haddock 

2 

Lake  herring                 

2 

All  other 

11 

Another 

12 

The  following  table  distributes  the  value  of  prod- 
ucts by  species  and  by  geographic  divisions: 


CANNING  AND  PBESERVINQ,  FISH  AND 
PBODUCTS:   1908. 

OTSTEES— VALtra  OF 

KIND  OF  PRODUCT, 

United 
States. 

Atlantic 

coast 
division. 

Pacific 

coast 

division. 

Gulf  of 
Mexico 
division. 

Great  Lakes 
and  Missis- 
sippi River 
divisions. 

Total             .                                            

$28,401,000 

$18,741,000 

$6,460,000 

$2,404,000 

$807,000 

l^Sl),  nycfjarSj  p(p 

24,88.5,000 

287,000 

4,557,000 

694,000 

214,000 

157,000 

667,000 

480,000 

462,000 

169,000 

5,960,000 

5,311,000 

468,000 

2153,000 

421,000 

3, 428, 000 

166,000 

742,  000 

531,000 

3,517,000 

1,233,000 

631,000 

854,000 

798,000 

15,357,000 
287,000 
4,101,000 
594,000 
214,000 
85,000 
664,000 

6,386,000 

2,338,000 

804,000 

Cod                                                                 

456,000 

Haddock                                                                                                                                  

Uake                                                      .           

100 
72,000 
3,200 

Halibut                                                                                                                                 .... 

480,000 

455,000 
169,000 
560,000 

6, 103, 000 
394,000 
188,000 
282,000 

1,794,000 

147,000 

10,000 

321,000 

3,384,000 

1,207,000 
611,000 
844,000 
721,000 

7,600 

Pollack                                                                                                                                     -  - 

Salmon                                                                          .             ' 

5,345,000 

207,000 

13,000 

71,000 

1,900 

161,000 

Whiteflsh 

> 75, 000 

86,666 
10(5,000 
19,000 

64,000 
1,628,000 

Crabs                                                                                                              

731,000 
26,000 
65,000 
11,000 

70,000 
6.5,000 
14,000 
20,000 
9,700 
21,000 

115,000 

All  other                                                     

2,600 

Fertilizer 

900 

on                                                                                  .         .                     

500 

All  other.                                                   

54,000 

1,100 

•  Includes  a  value  of  $17,000  reported  lor  products  from  the  Mississippi  River  division 
>  Includes  a  value  of  $2,000  reported  for  products  from  tlie  Mississippi  River  division. 


282 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  Atlantic  coast  division  reported  66  per  cent  of 
the  total  value  of  products ;  the  Pacific  coast  division, 
23  per  cent;  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  division,  8  per  cent; 
the  Great  Lakes  division,  nearly  3  per  cent;  and  the 
Mississippi  River  division,  less  than  1  per  cent.  Of 
the  value  of  all  salmon  treated  in  continental  United 
States,  90  per  cent  represents  the  value  of  salmon  pre- 
pared by  the  canneries  and  packing  houses  of  the 
Pacific  coast  states.  The  Atlantic  coast  division  is 
credited  with  96  per  cent  of  the  sardines  as  measured 
by  value,  90  per  cent  of  the  cod,  52  per  cent  of  the 
oysters,  and  84  per  cent  of  the  sturgeon  prepared  in 
the  United  States.  Nearly  all  of  the  hake,  mackerel, 
and  herring  (exclusive  of  lake  herring),  and  all  of  the 
ale  wives,  haddock,  and  pollack  were  put  up  in  the  At- 
lantic coast  states.  The  Gulf  states  reported  45  per 
cent  of  the  oyster  product  and  almost  the  entire  shrimp 
and  prawn  product.  All  the  lake  herring  output  was 
from  the  canning  houses  of  the  Great  Lakes  division. 


Table  1,  on  page  286,  gives  the  value  of  the  food 
products,  by  species  and  by  metiiod  of  treatment. 
The  canned  product  exceeded  in  value  the  product 
treated  by  any  other  method  used  in  preparing  fishery 
products  for  market.  Of  the  total  value  of  food  prod- 
ucts— .$24,885,000 — 57  per  cent  represents  canned 
product;  14  per  cent,  boned;  11  per  cent,  smoked; 
10  per  cent,  salted;  7  per  cent,  pickled;  and  1  per 
cent,  frozen. 

Table  2,  on  page  287,  distributes  the  quantity  and 
value  of  all  products  of  the  industry  according  to 
method  of  treatment  and  kind  of  product,  for  conti- 
nental United  States  and  for  each  geographic  division. 
The  by-products  of  the  canneries  and  packing  houses, 
consisting  of  fertilizer,  oil,  glue,  etc.,  had  a  value  in 
1908  of  $3,517,000.  On  account  of  the  importance  of 
some  of  these  as  articles  of  commerce,  they  are  shown 
in  detail,  by  geographic  divisions  and  by  states,  in  the 
following  table: 


DinSIOK  AND  STATE. 


United  States.... 
Atlantic  coast  division  . 


Virginia 

North  Carolina. 
Massachusetts.. 

New  Jersey 

Maryland 

Maine 

All  other  states. 


Pacific  coast  division . 


California 

Oregon 

Washington. 


Oulf  of  Mexico  division. 


Louisiana.. 
Mississippi. 
Florida 


Oreat  Lakes  division. 


CANNINQ  AND  PBESEBVINO,  PISH  AND  OYSTERS — VALtJB  OT 
PKODUCTS  OTBEB  THAN  FOOD  PKODUCT8:  1908. 


Total. 


$3,517,000 


3,384,000 


1,032,000 
116,000 
1,249,000 
63,000 
81,000 
143,000 
699,000 

65,000 


34,000 
9,400 
21,000 

65,000 


32,000 

33.000 

100 


Fertilizer. 


OU. 


11,233,000 


1,207,000 


618,000 
90,000 
77,000 
47,000 
44,000 
19,000 

312,000 

14,000 


2,400 
3.000 
8,800 

11,000 


1,100 
9,700 


$854,000 


844,000 


328,000 
23,000 

123,000 
16.000 
9,800 
20,000 

324,000 

9,700 


200 
6,000 
3,500 


Glue  and 
isinglass. 


'$782,000 


1762,000 


1  753,000 


9,000 
20,000 


20,000 


All  other 
products. 


$648,000 


571,000 


87,000 

2,100 

296,000 


27,000 
95,000 
64,000 

21,000 


11,000 

400 

9,000 

64,000 


31.000 

24,000 

100 

1,100 


1  Includes  a  value  of  $150,000  reported  for  Isinglass. 


Of  the  total  value  of  products  other  than  food  re- 
ported by  the  fish  and  oyster  canneries  and  packing 
houses,  35  per  cent  represents  the  value  of  the  fer- 
tilizer manufactured.  The  Atlantic  coast  states  con- 
tributed 98  per  cent  and  Virginia  alone  50  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  the  fertilizer  produced  by  these  establish- 
ments. 

Another  important  by-product  of  this  industry  was 
fish  oil,  for  which  a  value  of  $854,000  was  reported,  or 
24  per  cent  of  the  total  for  products  other  than  food. 
Virginia  led,  with  an  output  valued  at  38  per  cent  of 
the  value  of  all  fish  oil  reported  by  the  establishments 
under  consideration.  The  manufacture  of  fish  glue 
was  confined  to  three  states — Massachusetts,  Maine, 


and  California — 95  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  output 
being  credited  to  Massachusetts.  All  the  isinglass  re- 
ported, valued  at  $150,000,  was  from  Massachusetts. 

The  preceding  statistics  are  confined  to  the  fish  can- 
ning and  preserving  establishments  of  continental 
United  States,  and  do  not  include  Alaska.  In  the 
remainder  of  the  chapter,  which  is  devoted  to  a  pre- 
sentation in  detail  of  the  data  for  the  leading  prod- 
ucts, statistics  of  the  Alaskan  output  have  been 
included. 

Salmon. — The  table  following  shows,  for  the  United 
States,  inclusive  of  Alaska,  the  quantity  and  value  of 
the  salmon  treated  in  1908,  distributed  according  to 
method  of  treatment  bv  states. 


CANNING  AND  PRESERVING. 


288 


SALMON  FBODUCT  OF  CANNEBIES  AND  FACKINO  HOUSES:  1908. 

DIVISION  AND  STATE  OK  TERRITOEY. 

Total. 

Canned. 

Pickled. 

.Smoked. 

Salted,  In- 
cluding 
ralldHJured. 

Frozen  and 
fresb. 

QUANTITY  (POUNDS). 

256,414,000 

221,107,000 

19,053,000 

4,297.000 

8,540,000 

3,418,000 

252,982,000 

221,107.000 

19,053.000 

971,000 

8,434,000 

3,418.000 

198,953,000 

28,954,000 

21,914,000 

3,162,000 

3,432,000 

182.488,000 

22,091,000 

16,339,000 

189,000 

1  13.713.000 

780.000 

3,959,000 

600,000 

48,000 

800,000 

80,000 

42,000 

3,327,000 

1,646,000 
4,457,000 

'i,(fi7.mo 

825.000 

1,536,000 

2,331,000 
105,000 

New  York 

2,504,000 
928,000 

198,953,000 
57,461,000 

2,504,000 
823,000 

48.000 
4,249,000 

105,000 

1,646,000 
6,893,000 

182,488,000 
38,618,000 

13,713,000 
5,339,000 

1,057,000 

2,361,000 

VALUE. 

United  States  Including  Alaska                              

$16,638,000 

»14, 132,000 

11,053,000 

$678,000 

$541,000 

$234,000 

16,017,000 

14,132,000 

1,053,000 

60,000 

538,000 

234,000 

10,672.000 

2,731,000 

2,256.000 

359,000 

621,000 

10,186,000 

2,362,000 

1,565.000 

!              20,000 

3353,000 

76.000 

552.000 

72,000 

4,000 
39,000 
11,000 

6,300 

618,000 

79,000 
199,000 

«51,000 

55,000 

129,000 

261,000 
2,800 

460,000 
161,000 

10,672,000 
6,966,000 

460.000 
158,000 

4,000 
674,000 

2,800 

79,000 
462,000 

Alaska 

10,186,000 
3,948,000 

353,000 
700,000 

51,000 

183,000 

'  Includes  4,457,000  pounds  of  salmon  bellies. 
'  Includes  888,000  pounds  of  fresh  salmon. 

The  total  quantity  canned  or  preserved  in  1908  was 
256,414,000  pounds,  valued  at  $16,638,000.  Alaska 
easily  ranked  first,  reporting  78  per  cent  of  the  quan- 
tity and  64  per  cent  of  the  value.  Washington,  with 
11  per  cent  of  the  quantity  and  16  per  cent  of  the 
value,  and  Oregon,  with  9  per  cent  of  the  quantity 
and  14  per  cent  of  the  value,  ranked  respectively 
second  and  tlurd. 

The  methods  of  treatment  employed  vary  in  the 
different  sections  of  the  country;    for  instance,  74  per 


'  Includes  a  value  of  $59,000  reported  for  salmon  bellies. 
'  Includes  a  value  of  $48,000  reported  for  fresh  salmon. 

cent  of  the  California  product  was  salted,  while  practi- 
cally all  of  that  prepared  in  the  Eastern  and  Central 
states  was  smoked.  Of  the  total  product  of  salmon 
treated  in  the  United  States,  including  Alaska,  86  per 
cent  was  canned. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  comparative 
statistics  as  to  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  salmon 
treated  in  the  United  States,  inclusive  of  Alaska, 
by  states,  arranged  in  the  order  of  the  value  in 
1908: 


.SALMON  PRODUCT  OP  CANNERIES  AND  PACKING  DOUSES. 

STATE  OB  TEEEITOBT. 

1908 

1905 

1900 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States  Including  Alaska  . .        

256,414,000 

$16,638,000 

190,529.000 

$13,633,000 

116,621,000 

$9,423,000 

Alaska                                .                 

198,953,000 
28,9.54.000 
21,914.000 
3,162.000 
2.504.000 
928.000 

10,672.000 

2,731.000 

2,256.000 

359,000 

460,000 

161.000 

126.370.000 
32.034.000 
27.21)2.000 

1.881.000 
2,982.000 

7,731,000 
2,909,000 
2.392,000 
(') 

320.000 
281,000 

51,992,000 

44,317,000 

16,165,000 

3,679.000 

97,000 

371,000 

3.608,000 

3,840,000 

1,665.000 

270,000 

New  York                                      

14,000 

27,000 

'  Included  under  "  All  other  states.' 


Sardines. — Since  1875,  when  the  first  factory  for 
canning  sardines  in  the  United  States  was  started  at 
Eastport,  Me.,  that  state  has  held  a  practical  monopoly 
of  the  industry. 


The  tabular  statement  following  gives  the  quantity 
and  value  of  sardines  packed,  by  states,  for  1900, 
1905,  and  1908. 


284 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


SABDINES  PACKED. 

STATE. 

1908 

1906 

1900 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States 

72,203,000 

$5,309,000 

87,225.000 

$4,380,000 

44.951,000 

S4. 212. 000 

Maine                

■68.216,000 

2,322,000 

1,634,000 

32,000 

'4.732,000 

309,000 

207,000 

1,900 

86,219,000 
(') 

860.000 
146,000 

4,291,000 
(') 
78,000 
11,000 

44,420,000 
142,000 
389,000 

4,050.000 
84.000 

New  York 

« 

■  Not  Including  120,000  pounds  of  "Russian  sardines,"  valued  at  $2,100. 


'  None  reported. 


Cod. — The  cod  product  treated  in  1908  amounted  to 
66,382,000  pounds,  valued  at  $4,692,000.  The  follow- 
ing table  shows  the  quantity  and  value  of  this  product 


according  to  the  method  of  treatment,  for  the  United 
States,  including  Alaska,  and  by  states: 


COD  packed:  1908. 

DIVISION  AND  STATE  OB  TEBBTTOBT. 

Total. 

Boned. 

Salted. 

Pickled. 

Frozen, 
fresh,  and 
smoked. 

QUANTiTT  (potnros). 

66,382,000 

32,784,000 

27,776,000 

5,785.000 

37  000 

49,520,000 

32,557,000 

15,883,000 

1,083,000 

3,000 

Massachusetts                             

41,337,000 

8,097,000 

91,000 

16,856,000 

31,968.000 
589,000 

8,369,000 

7,426,000 
88,000 

11,893,000 

1,000,000 
83,000 

Maine                                                                                                    .          .  .           

3,000 
34,000 

Pacific  coast  division                            .               

!           227,000 

4,702,000 

Washington 

4,551.000 
6,902,000 
5,403,000 

60,979,000 
5,403,000 

227,000 

4,324,000 
2,200,000 
5,369,000 

22, 407. 000 
5,369,000 

4,702,000 

Alaska    .                             

34,000 

3,000 
34,000 

All  states                                                    

'      32,784,000 

5,785,000 

Alaska 

1 

VALUE. 

United  States,  Including  Alaska 

$4,692,000 

$3,250,000 

$1,237,000 

$202,000 

$2,800 

Atlantic  coast  division 

4,101,000 

3,238,000 

812,000 

61,000 

200 

Massachusetts  .           .. 

3,726,000 

365,000 

10,000 

591,000 

3,179,000 
59,000 

497,000 

305,000 

9,900 

426,000 

50,000 
1,400 

Pennsylvania 

200 

Pacific  coast  division 

12,000 

150,000 

2,600 

Washington 

229,000 
227,000 
135,000 

4,557,000 
135,000 

12,000 

217,000 
77,000 
132,000 

1,105,000 
132,000 

150,000 

Alaska 

2,600 
200 

All  states    

3,250,000 

202,000 

Alaska                                 .                                                                                          

2  600 

The  value  reported  for  1908  represents  an  increase 
of  $1,678,000,  or  more  than  50  per  cent,  over  the 
value  reported  for  1905,  which  was  $3,013,000.  In 
1900  the  product  was  valued  at  $3,109,000.  The 
next  table  shows,  by  geographic  divisions  and  by 
states,  the  quantity  and  value  of  cod  reported  by  can- 
ning and  packing  establishments  in  the  United  States, 
including  Alaska,  for  1900,  1905,  and  1908. 

No  figures  are  shown  for  Alaska  for  1905,  but  a  com- 
parison of  the  figures  for  1900  and  1908  reveals 
an  increase  of  685  per  cent  in  the  quantity  and  of 
382  per  cent  in  the  value  of  the  cod  prepared  by  the 
canneries  and  salteries  of  this  territory. 


The  product  of  Massachusetts  represented  62  per 
cent  of  the  total  quantity  and  79  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  cod  treated  in  canneries  and  packing  houses. 
Maine  reported  a  value  of  $365,000;  Washington, 
$229,000;  California,  $227,000;  Alaska,  $135,000;  and 
Pennsylvania,  $10,000.  There  seems  to  be  a  rapidly 
growing  demand  for  boned  cod.  While  but  49  per 
cent  of  the  total  amount  in  1908  was  boned,  the  value 
of  the  product  thus  treated  formed  69  per  cent  of  the 
total  value.  In  Washington  nearly  all  of  the  cod  was 
salted,  and  in  California  about  two-thirds  was  pickled 
and  the  rest  salted. 


CANNING  AND  PRESERVING. 


285 


COD    PACKED. 

DITI9I0H  AKD  8TATE  OB  TEBBITOBY. 

1906 

1905 

1900 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States,  including  Alaska 

66,382,000 

»4, 692, 000 

48,758,000 

$3,013,000 

65,419,000 

13,109,000 

Atlantic  coast  division 

49,526,000 

4,101,000 

40,620,000 

2,655,000 

57,088,000 

2,628,000 

Massacliusetts 

41,337,000 

8,097,000 

91,000 

16,856,000 

3,726,000 

365,000 

10,000 

591,000 

37,913,000 

2,682,000 

24,000 

8,138,000 

2,511,000 

141,000 

2,200 

359,000 

48,501,000 

8,535,000 

52,000 

8,330,000 

2,545,000 
80,000 

Maine 

Ali  otlier  states 

Pacific  coast  division 

480,000 

Washington 

4,551,000 
6,902,000 
5,403,000 

60,979,000 
6,403,000 

229,000 
227,000 
135,000 

4,557,000 
135,000 

877,000 
7,261,000 

49,000 
309,000 

954,000 

6,688,000 

688,000 

64,731,000 
688,000 

45,000 
407,000 
28,000 

3,081,000 
28  000 

Caiifornia 

Aiaslia 

Allstates .      . 

48,758,000  J        3,013,000 

Alaslca 

1 

Oysters. — The    following    table    gives    the    canned- 
oyster  product,  by  states,  for  1908: 


DIVISION  AND  STATE. 


United  States..., 

Atlantic  coast  division 

Maryland 

Soutii  Carolina 

Georgia 

Virginia 

Nort  ii  Carolina 

Florida 

OuU  of  Mexico  division. 

Louisiana , 

Mis.sissippi 

Florida 

Pacific  coast  division  . . 

Washington , 

Oregon , 


OTSTEES     CANNED: 

1908. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


46,593,000 


25,924,000 


7,651,000 
9,426,000 
4,853,000 
1,850,000 
1,055,000 
1,083,000 

20,226,000 


9,969,000 
7,835,000 
2,422,000 


413,000 
30,000 


Value. 


$3,428,000 


1,794,000 


599,000 
525,000 
374,000 
163,000 
70,000 
62,000 

,528,000 


770,000 
625,000 
134,000 

106,000 


100,000 
6,100 


Louisiana  held  first  place  in  the  value  of  oysters 
canned,  followed  by  Mississippi,  Maryland,  and  South 
Carolina,  in  the  order  named.  In  1905  Mississippi 
ranked  first,  Maryland  second,  South  CaroUna  third, 
and  Louisiana  fourth.  In  1900  Maryland  was  first 
and  Mississippi  second.  The  next  tabular  statement 
shows  the  quantity  and  value  of  the  canned  oyster 
product  for  1900,  1905,  and  1908,  by  states  ranked 
according  to  the  value  reported  in  1908. 

The  value  of  the  canned  oyster  product  was  $371,000 
less  in  1908  than  in  1905,  but  it  was  greater  than  in 
1900  by  $1,893,000,  or  123  per  cent.  The  decrease 
from  1905  to  1908  occurred  principally  in  Mississippi 
and  North  Carolina. 

Shrimp  and  pravm. — In  1908,  as  in  earHer  years, 
practically  all  these  crustaceans  were  packed  in  Lou- 
isiana and  Mississippi,  the  former  reporting  54  per 
cent  and  the  latter  44  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of 
product. 


OTSTEBS  CANNED. 

STATE. 

1908 

1905 

1900 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
Cpounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

United  States 

46,593,000 

$3,428,000 

59,249,000 

$3,799,000 

20,792,000 

$1,536,000 

Louisiana 

9,969,000 
7,835,000 
7,651,000 
9,426,000 
4,853,000 
3,505,000 
1,856,000 
413,000 
1,055,000 
30,000 

770,000 
625,000 
599,000 
525,000 
374,000 
195,000 
163,000 
100,000 
70,000 
6,100 

7,126,000 
21,952,000 
6,666,000 
9,251,000 
4,794,000 
1,802,000 

f^ 
2,526,000 

(') 
5,132,000 

507,000 
1,341,000 
549,000 
530,000 
257,000 
126,000 

144,000 

C) 

346,000 

1,273,000 
6,078,000 
6,916,000 

{■> 

(') 
1,504,000 

(') 
50,000 

(') 

(•) 
4,972,000 

72,000 
495,000 
570,000 
(') 
(■) 

96,000 
(') 
17,000 

Mississippi 

Maryland 

South  Carolina 

Georgia 

Florida '  ' 

Virginia 

Washington 

North  Carolina 

Oregon 

All  other  states 

286,000 

'  Included  in  the  total  for  "All  other  states. ' 


•  None  reported. 


The  tabular  statement  following  gives  the  quan- 
tity and  value  of  the  preserved  shrimp  and  prawn 


product  in  1908,  distributed  by  method  of  treatment 
and  by  states. 


286 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


shbhif  and  pbawn  pkesebved:  1908. 

STATE. 

Total. 

Canned. 

Dried  and  pickled. 

Qaantlty 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(poundsj. 

Value. 

United  States- 

3,772,000 

$742,000 

3,273,000 

$657,000 

500,000 

$85,000 

Louisiana  

1,986.000 

1,704,000 

75,000 

8,300 

400 

403,000 

329,000 

9,000 

1,000 

100 

1.644,000 
1,625,000 

334,000 
322, 000 

■342,000 

2  79,000 

"75,000 

M,800 

69,000 
6,600 

9,000 

South  Carolina 

3,500 
400 

600 
100 

500 

'  Dried. 


»  Piclsled. 


The  quantity  and  value  of  the  preserved  shrimp  and 
prawn  product,  as  reported  at  the  canvasses  of  1900, 
1905,  and  1908,  are  shown  at  top  of  next  column. 


SHEMP  AND  PBAWN  PRESERVED. 

STATE. 

1908 

1906 

1900 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds) . 

Value. 

United  States.. 

3,772,000 

$742,000 

5,087,000 

$479,000 

1,929,000 

$226,000 

1,986.000 

1,704.000 

83,000 

403,000 

329.000 

10,000 

3,702.000 

1,315.000 

11,000 

346.000 

132.000 

1,200 

515.000 

1,313,000 

102,000 

80,000 

Mississippi 

136,000 

All  other  states 

9,800 

Although  the  quantity  preserved  in  the  United  States 
in  1908  was  less  than  in  1905,  the  value  of  the  product 
showed  a  large  increase.  Compared  with  the  figures 
for  1900,  there  is  shown  an  increase  of  96  per  cent  in 
quantity  and  228  per  cent  in  value. 


Table  1.— CANNING  AND  PRESERVING,  FISH  AND  OYSTERS— VALUE  OF  FOOD  PRODUCTS:  1908. 


CANNINQ  AND  PRESERVING,  PISH  AND  OYSTERS— VALUE   OF  FOOD  PRODUCTS:   1908. 

KIND  OF  PRODUCT. 

Total. 

Canned. 

Boned. 

Smoked. 

Salted, 

including 

mild^jured. 

Pickled. 

Frozen 
and  fresh. 

Total , 

$24,885,000 

$14,142,000 

$3,526,000 

$2,818,000 

$2,386,000 

$1,694,000 

$318,000 

Fish: 

287,000 

4,557,000 

76,000 

594,000 

214,000 

157,000 
667,000 
480,000 
462,000 
64,000 

169,000 

5,966,000 

5,311,000 

468,000 

263,000 

421,000 

3,428,000 

166,000 

742,000 

391,000 

66,000 

7,400 

214,000 

202,000 

1,000 

35,000 

100 

■200 

74,000 

4,600 

402,000 

Cod 

3,250,000 
11,000 
08,000 
35,000 

1,105,000 
65,000 
183,000 
179,000 

20,000 

200 

Cusk                           ...                     ... 

Haddock 

308,000 

Hake                  

Halibut 

114,000 

451,000 

420,000 

13,000 

22,000 

8,400 

123,000 

10,000 

16,000 

33,000 

Mackerel 

48,000 
3,000 

Mullet                                            .                                    

61,000 

128,000 

462,000 

2,100 

Pollack                                                                                         

40,000 

200 
674,000 

100 
453,000 
257,000 

200 

700,000 

1,900 

3,946,666 

5,307.000 

3,400 

183,000 

12,000 

Whitefish                                                                           

4,100 

200 
8,600 

1,900 

412,000 

3,428,000 

166,000 

657,000 

97,000 

Crabs 

69,000 
92,000 

16,000 
34,000 

Another          .                  ..          



113,000 

56,000 

I  Value  of  haUbut  fins. 


CANNING  AND  PRESERVING. 


287 


Table  2.— CANNING  AND  PRESERVING,  FISH  AND  OYSTERS— PRODUCTS,  BY  GEOGRAPHIC  DIVISIONS,  METHOD  OF 

TREATMENT,  AND  KIND:  1908. 


CANinNQ  AND  PBESERVraO,  FISH  AND  OYSTERS— PRODUCTS:  1908. 

METHOD  or  TREATMENT  AND 
KIND  OF  PRODUCT. 

UNITED  STATES. 

Atlantic  coast  division. 

Pacific  coast  division. 

Gull  of  Mexico 
division. 

Great  Lalces 
division. 

Mi.s.sissippi  River 
division. 

QuantitT 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

468,964,000 

$28,401,000 

359,558,000 

$18,741,000 

73,257,000 

$6,450,000 

26,461,000 

$2,404,000 

9,651,000 

$788,000 

137,000 

$19,000 

169,467,000 

14,142,000 

102,751,000 

7,498,000 

41,657,000 

4,381,000 

25,056,000 

2,259,000 

2,600 

3,300 

72,168,000 
38,618,000 
46,593,000 
3,273,000 
5,276,000 
789,000 
2,749,000 

38,307,000 

5,307,000 
3,946,000 
3,428,000 
667,000 
412,000 
160,000 
225,000 

3,526,000 

70,538,000 

5,101,000 

1,630,000 

38,618,000 

444,000 

206,000 

3,946,000 

106,000 

25,924,000 

3,900 

3,283,000 

720,000 

2,283,000 

38,080,000 

i,  794, 666 

600 

273,000 

147,000 

183,000 

3,514,000 

20,226,000 
3,209,000 
1,353,000 

1,528,000 
656,000 
54,000 

640,000 
69,000 
256,000 

227,000 

86,000 
19,000 
17,000 

12,000 

Crabs 

209,000 

21,000 

2,600 

3,300 

Boned 

Cod 

32,784,000 

1,372,000 

2,080,000 

933,000 

827,000 

311,000 

32,003,000 

3,250,000 
123,000 
68,000 
40,000 
35,000 
11,000 

2,818,000 

32,557,000 

1,372,000 

2,080,000 

933,000 

827,000 

311,000 

23,912,000 

3,238,000 
123,000 
68,000 
40,000 
35,000 
11,000 

2,037,000 

227,000 

12,000 

Haddock 

Pollack 

Hake 

Cusk 

1,460,000 

95,000 

6,496,000 

670,000 

134,000 

15,000 

Rtiimnn 

4,249,000 
1,317,000 
11,939,000 
4,562,000 
5,192,000 
1,666,000 
1,259,000 
1,819,000 

54,745,000 

674,000 
453,000 
451,000 
426,000 
308,000 
257,000 
114,000 
134,000 

2,386,000 

2,975,000 
1,029,000 
11,840,000 

547,000 
394,000 
449,000 

923,000 
8,100 
98,000 

56,000 
1,500 
1,900 

352,000 
168,000 

71,000 
44,000 

112,000 

13,000 

4,562,000 

426,000 

5,192,000 
979,000 
851,000 

1,046,000 

38,889,000 

308,000 

188,000 

81,000 

70,000 

1,491,000 

Wiiitefish 

665,000 

67,000 

22,000 

2,000 

408,000 
23,000 

14,495,000 

34,000 
1,600 

796,000 

AH  other 

750,000 
984,000 

02,000 
28,000 

Baited,  including  mild-<nired 

377,000 

72,000 

Cod  .   .. 

22,407,000 
6,893,000 
4,430,000 
8;'628,000 
5,278,000 
342,000 
1,695,000 
1,118,000 
4,054,000 

39,919,000 

l,ia5,000 
462,000 
183,000 
179,000 
128,000 
69,000 
65,000 
61,000 
134,000 

1,694,000 

15,883,000 
105,000 
4,430,000 
8,626,000 
5,278,000 

812,000 
2,800 
183,000 
179,000 
128,000 

6,524,000 
6,788,000 

294,000 
459,000 

Haddock 



Hake 

2,000 

100 

Pollack 



Shrimp 

342,000 

69,000 

Cusk 

1,595,000 
1,118,000 
1,854,000 

29,122,000 

65,000 
61,000 
60,000 

805,000 

Mullet 

All  other 

1,181,000 
10,643,000 

43,000 
875,000 

35,000 
79,000 

3,500 
6,600 

984,000 
76,000 

28,000 
6,500 



Pickled 

Salmon 

5,339,000 

4,495,000 

18,193,000 

6,785,000 

4,208,000 

660,000 

158,000 

230,000 

851,000 

5,644,000 

700,000 

402,000 

214,000 

202,000 

74,000 

35,000 

16,000 

10,000 

41,000 

318,000 

5,339,000 
152,000 

700,000 
6,700 

4,344,666 

18,193,000 

1,083,000 

4,157,000 

660,000 

79,000 

395,000 

214,000 

51.000 

73,000 

36,000 

9,500 

Cod 

4,702,000 
51,000 

150,000 
1,200 

Haddock 

79,000 

6,600 

230,000 
169,000 

3,152,000 

10,000 
7,200 

225,000 

606,000 
600,000 

27,000 
12,000 

76,000 
1,892,000 

6,500 
81,000 



2,361,000 
946,000 
628,000 
560,000 
81,000 
520,000 
190,000 
368,000 

128,877,000 

183,000 
33,000 
28,000 
22,000 
12,000 
10,000 
8,500 
21,000 

3,517,000 

2,361,000 

183,000 

Lake  herring 

946,000 
628,000 

33,000 
28,000 

Halibut 

550,000 
81,000 

22,000 
12,000 

. 

620,000 
30,000 
50,000 

126,202,000 

10,000 

800 

1,000 

3,384,000 

Shad 

160,000 

7,700 

All  other    . 

318,000 
103,000 

20,000 
2,500 

1,622,000 

65,000 

950,000 

65,000 

CHAPTER  IX. 
EXPORTS  AND  IMPORTS.' 


Comparison  with  domestic  production. — The  exports 
of  domestic  fishery  products  for  the  fiscal  year  ended 
June  30,  1908,  were  valued  at  $6,166,193,  and  the 
imports  for  consumption  for  the  same  period  were 
valued  at  $13,135,724,  or  $6,969,531  more  than  the 
exports. 

Fresh  fish  formed  but  a  small  part  of  either  the 
exports  or  the  imports.  The  exports  and  imports  of 
fresh  fish  were  essentially  to  and  from  near-by  countries, 
and  so  far  as  they  are  distinguishable  and  reported 
separately  amounted  in  value  to  only  $87,379  and 
$1,772,164,  respectively.  When  these  amounts  are 
deducted  from  the  gross  exports  and  imports  there 
remain  the  large  sums  of  $6,078,814  and  $11,363,560, 
representing,  respectively,  the  value  of  the  exports 
and  imports  of  fishery  products  other  than  fresh  fish 
during  the  fiscal  year  1908.  Obviously,  therefore, 
any  comparison  of  exports  and  imports  with  domestic 
production  must  deal  with  the  products  of  the  fish 
canning  and  preserving  industry  rather  than  with  the 
main  products  of  the  fisheries.  The  statistics  of 
domestic  production,  exports,  and  imports  may  be 
correlated  so  as  to  show  in  a  general  way  the  value  of 
the  fishery  products  available  for  consumption.  Such 
a  comparison  is,  however,  necessarily  defective,  not 
only  because  the  values  of  products  in  the  census  of 
the  fisheries  are  those  reported  by  the  fishermen  or  the 
manufacturers,  while  the  values  of  products  exported 
and  imported,  are  the  commercial  values  at  the  port 
and  may  be  therefore  considerably  different,  but  also 
because  there  is  no  record  of  the  value  of  the  stock 
on  hand  at  the  beginning  and  at  the  end  of  the  year. 
Furthermore,  the  statistics  for  exports  and  imports 
are  those  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  June  30,  while  those 
for  the  fisheries  are  for  the  calendar  year.  The  prod- 
ucts of  fish  canning  and  preserving  estabhshments, 
however,  inclusive  of  those  of  Alaska,  had  a  value 
of  $35,902,847  in  1908.  As  a  considerable  amount  of 
fish  was  cured  or  preserved  by  the  fishermen,  this 
should  be  added  to  the  products  of  the  fish  canning 
and  preserving  estabhshments,  for  comparative  pur- 
poses; and  as  these  exports  and  imports  of  fishery 
products  include  oil,  whalebone,  and  sponges,  the 
amounts  reported  for  these  products  by  the  fisheries 
should  be  also  added.  The  sum  secured  by  making 
these  combinations,  $38,910,295,  represents  the  value 

'  The  figures  used  in  this  chapter  have  been  taken  from  "Com- 
merce and  Navigation  of  the  United  States,"  Bureau  of  Statistics, 
Department  of  Commerce  and  Labor. 

(288) 


for  the  domestic  production  which  is  in  a  general  way 
comparable  with  the  figures  for  the  exports  and 
imports  of  fishery  products  other  than  fresh  fish.  This 
total  comprises  the  products  of  the  fish  canning  and 
preserving  industry  in  continental  United  States, 
$35,902,847;  fish  salted  and  smioked  by  fishermen, 
$1,948,635;  fish  oil,  whale  oil,  and  sea-elephant  oil, 
$298,717;  whalebone,  $215,226;  and  sponges,  $544,870. 
The  excess  of  the  value  of  imports  over  that  of  exports, 
$6,969,531,  added  to  the  above  total,  gives  the  sum  of 
$45,879,826  for  the  United  States  consumption  of 
fishery  products  other  than  fresh  fish,  of  which  amount 
15  per  cent  represented  imports  and  85  per  cent  the 
domestic  production. 

Comparison  of  exports  and  imports. — In  1890  and 
previous  years  the  total  exports  of  fishery  products 
exceeded  the  imports,  and  the  balance  of  trade  was  in 
favor  of  the  United  States;  but  by  1895  the  balance 
had  shifted  and  the. imports  exceeded  the  exports, 
and  since  the  latter  year  the  balance  of  trade  has  uni- 
formly been  against  the  United  States.  The  differ- 
ence increased  rapidly,  until  in  1907  and  1908  the  debit 
balance  of  trade  was  in  excess  of  the  total  value  of  the 
exports. 

The  following  tabular  statement  gives  the  values  of 
the  imports  and  exports  of  fishery  products  for  cer- 
tain years  since  1875,  and  the  resulting  balances.  This 
statement  includes  the  value  of  all  fish,  whether  fresh, 
canned,  or  otherwise  treated,  fish  and  whale  oil,  whale- 
bone, and  sponges. 


VALUK  OF  nsHKET  PEODUCTS. 

FISCAL  TEAS. 

Imports. 

Exports. 

Excess  of 
imports 

over 
exports. 

Excess  of 
exports 

over 
imports. 

1908 

$13,135,724 
13,224.049 
12,599,201 
11,530,487 
11,052,236 
8,230.121 
6,237,287 
6,815,284 
6,247,404 
3,813,299 
3,350,748 

$6, 166, 193 
6,238,670 
8,100,879 
7,096,340 
8,368,016 
6,163,113 
5,408,870 
7,330,993 
5,891,164 
5,114,926 
4,716,655 

$6,909,531 
6.985,479 
4,498,322 
4,434,147 
2,684,220 
2,067,008 
828,417 

1907 

1906 

1905 

1904 

1900 

189S  

1890 

$1,521,709 

643,760 

1,301,627 

1885 

1880 ■ 

1875     .            

1  365  907 

In  the  case  of  whale  oil  the  excess  of  imports  over 
exports  did  not  begin  until  1900;  whalebone  exports, 
on  the  other  hand,  have  always  exceeded  imports,  but 
by  varying  amounts.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  growth 
in  the  debit  balance  is  due  chiefly  to  a  marked  in- 
crease in  the  value  of  imports.     Table  1,  on  page  291, 


EXPORTS  AND  IMPORTS. 


289 


gives  the  quantity  and  value  of  tiie  exports  of  domestic 
fishery  products,  distributed  by  kinds,  for  the  fiscal 
years  1890,  1900,  and  1908;  and  Table  2,  on  page  291, 
gives  for  the  same  years  tlie  value  of  the  domestic 
e2q)orts,  by  country  to  which  exported.  The  quantity 
and  value  of  the  imports  reported  for  the  fiscal  years 
1890,  1900,  and  1908  are  distributed  according  to  kind 
of  product  and  country  from  which  imported  in  Table 
3,  on  page  292;  and  the  value  of  imports  for  these  years 
is  shown  by  country  from  which  imported  in  Table  4, 
on  page  293. 

The  exportation  and  importation  of  fishery  products 
are  governed  largely  by  the  location  of  the  source  of 
supply  or  market,  shipping  conditions,  the  direction  of 
trade  routes,  etc. 

The  imports  of  salmon,  which  were  valued  at 
$229,881,  were  all  from  near-by  North  American  coun- 
tries and  the  greater  part  were  entered  at  North  Atlan- 
tic and  at  northern  border  and  lake  ports.  Manifestly, 
the  proximity  of  the  Canadian  supply  to  the  Eastern 
states  made  such  importation  cheaper  than  the  trans- 
portation of  the  domestic  product  from '  the  Pacific 
coast.  Similar  situations,  together  with  shipping 
conditions  and  the  location  of  trade  routes,  account 
for  the  exportation  of  domestic  cod,  haddock,  hake, 
pollack,  and  herring  to  the  West  Indies  and  the  Central 
American  states,  while  quantities  many  times  larger 
were  imported  from  Europe,  Canada,  the  West  Indies, 
and  elsewhere.  In  the  case  of  sponges  part  of  the  im- 
ports consisted  of  various  species  not  produced  on  the 
coast  of  Florida,  although  the  largest  portion  came  from 
the  West  Indies  and  comprised  varieties  very  similar  to 
those  produced  in  Florida.  On  account  of  the  loca- 
tion of  trade  routes  New  York  is  the  center  of  both 
exportation  and  importation  of  this  product.  Oysters 
were  imported,  while  they  formed  the  most  important 
fishery  product  exported  next  to  salmon.  Herring, 
the  fish  most  extensively  imported,  had  only  a  small 
value  as  an  export,  as  explained  above.  Among  other 
fishery  products  imported  in  large  quantities  were  ancho- 
vies and  sardines,  pickled  mackerel,  of  which  only  a  small 
amount  was  exported,  and  lobsters,  which  formed  no 
part  of  the  exports  of  fishery  products.  Miscellaneous 
kinds  of  fresh  fish  and  shellfish  from  Canada  and  other 
countries  owe  their  interchange  with  like  American 
products  principally  to  differences  in  species,  but  also 
to  the  direction  of  the  trade  routes. 

Exports. — Although  the  United  States  exported 
fishery  products  worth  $6,166,193  m  1908,  the  pro- 
duction as  a  whole  was  less  than  the  consumption,  and 
the  fish  importations,  valued  at  $13,135,724,  did  not 
overstock  the  market.  Of  the  total  value  of  the  ex- 
ports in  1908,  66  per  cent  represented  the  value  of 
salmon,  either  canned,  cured,  or  fresh,  and  1 1  per  cent 
that  of  oysters. 

The  preeminence  of  salmon  among  exports  was 
maintained  in  each  of  the  years  for  which  statistics  are 
76786°— 11 19 


given,  the  quantities  differing  only  slightly.  There  has 
been,  however,  a  marked  change  in  the  form  in  which 
the  salmon  has  been  exported;  in  1890  practically 
the  entire  quantity  was  canned,  but  in  1908  only  60 
per  cent  of  the  amount  exported  was  thus  prepared. 
Although  less  salmon  was  exported  in  1908  than  in 
1890,  the  value  of  the  smaller  exportation  was  greater 
by  $758,176.  On  the  other  hand,  the  value  of  the 
oyster  exports  decreased. 

The  fishery  products  exported  to  the  United  King- 
dom had  a  greater  value  than  those  exported  to  any 
other  country,  although  the  value  of  'the  exports  to 
Germany  was  nearly  as  great.  The  former  country  is 
credited  with  26  per  cent  and  the  latter  with  25  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  our  exports  of  fishery  pro- 
ducts. The  German  trade  was  much  smaller,  rela- 
tively, in  1900  and  1890,  while  the  purchases  of  the 
United  Kingdom  for  those  years  constituted  40  and  50 
per  cent,  respectively,  of  the  total  value  of  the  exports 
of  fishery  products  of  the  United  St?ates. 

The  exports  to  the  United  Kingdom  in  1908  were 
composed  principally  of  canned  salmon  and  com- 
prised about  half  of  that  commodity  exported.  This 
country  also  took  nearly  a  third  of  the  oyster  exports. 
The  exports  to  Germany  consisted  almost  wholly  of 
cured  salmon,  over  86  per  cent  of  the  total  exports  of 
which  went  to  that  countiy.  Of  the  exported  whale- 
bone, over  98  per  cent  represents  product  purchased 
by  France. 

The. total  exports  to  North  American  countries  have 
gradually,  though  slightly,  decreased  since  1890.  The 
value  of  the  exports  to  Canada,'  including  Newfound- 
land, $431,800,  was  larger  in  1908  than  that  of  the 
exports  to  any  other  country  of  this  continent,  forming 
41  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  fishery  products  ex- 
ported to  countries  of  North  America.  Though  this 
represents  a  decrease  in  both  amount  and  percentage 
of  the  total  since  1900,  it  is  nearly  twice  as  great  as  the 
corresponding  value  in  1890.  In  1890  the  West  Indies 
received  a  much  larger  share  of  our  exported  fishery 
products  than  did  Canada,  but  since  then  the  exports 
to  these  islands  have  steadily  decreased,  and  a  decrease 
has  been  manifest  since  1900  even  in  the  case  of  Cuba, 
despite  the  close  political  relations  between  that  island 
and  the  United  States  during  the  past  10  years.  But  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  there  has  been  an  increase  as  com- 
pard  with  1890  in  the  value  of  the  fishery  products  im- 
ported from  the  West  Indies,  it  seems  probable  that 
the  home  demand  rather  than  any  loss  of  markets 
caused  the  decrease  in  the  exportations  to  these 
islands.  The  exports  of  fishery  products  to  the 
Central  American  states  were  much  larger  than  in 
1900  and  1890,  this  increase  being  in  line  with  the 
increase  in  general  traile  with  these  states.  Mexico, 
especially  since  1900,  also  shows  a  large  increase  in 
imports  of  fishery  products  from  the  United  States, 
which  was  the  result  of  the  increased  importation  of 
canned  salmon. 


290 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  export  trade  in  fish  with  South  America  has 
developed  rapidly,  especially  that  with  Chile  and  Ar- 
gentina, salmon  being  the  principal  kind  exported.  Of 
the  great  gain  made  in  exports  of  fishery  products  to 
Brazil  between  1890  and  1900,  about  one-half  has  been 
lost  since  the  latter  year.  During  the  years  from  1900 
to  1908  the  export  trade  with  Asia,  Oceania,  and  Africa 
also  receded  from  the  high-water  mark  of  1900. 

Imports. — The  aggregate  value  of  fishery  products 
imported  into  the  United  States  in  1908  was 
$13,135,724,  of  which  amount  the  sum  of  $12,292,770 
represents  the  value  of  food-fish  imports,  including 
shellfish.  Herring,  the  chief  article  imported,  sup- 
pUed  20  per  cent  of  the  latter  value.  The  proportions 
that  other  leading  commodities  represented  of  the  total 
value  of  the  food-fish  imports  (including  shellfish)  were 
as  follows:  Anchovies  and  sardines,  packed  in  oil  or 
otherwise  treated,  18  per  cent;  fresh  fish,  14  per  cent; 
canned  or  preserved  mackerel,  12  per  cent;  lobsters, 
11  per  cent;  and  preserved  cod,  haddock,  hake,  and 
pollack,  7  per  cent.  Thus  these  commodities,  together 
with  herring,  account  for  83  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  food-fish  and  sheUfish  imports. 

The  bulk  of  the  herring  product,  97  per  cent,  was 
pickled  or  salted  and  of  the  quantity  thus  treated,  37 
per  cent  came  from  the  Netherlands  and  a  slightly 
greater  proportion,  which,  however,  was  of  smaller 
value,  from  the  United  Kingdom.  Anchovies  and  sar- 
dines, packed  in  oil  or  otherwise  treated,  came  chiefly 
from  Norway  and  France.  The  value  of  fresh  fifeh  im- 
ported was  more  than»twenty  times  that  of  the  fresh 
fish  exported.  The  most  important  source  of  supplies 
of  these  latter  imports  was  Canada,  which  also  formed 
the  principal  market  for  our  fresh  fish  exports. 

Of  the  value  reported  for  mackerel,  42  per  cent  rep- 
resents imports  from  the  United  Kingdom,  and  34  per 
cent  imports  from  Norway.  Lobsters  were  brought 
chiefly  from  Canada,  while  a  substantial  quantity  came 
from  British  South  Africa.  Preserved  cod,  haddock, 
hake,  and  pollack  were  imported  chiefly  from  Canada. 

The  proportions  which  the  specified  kinds  of  imports 
have  represented  of  the  total  food-fish  imports  have 
been  nearly  the  same  in  previous  years,  although  her- 
ring has  gained  somewhat  more  rapidly  than  any  of 
the  other  classes  of  fishery  products.  Not  one  of  the 
classes  of  food-fish  products  for  which  statistics  are 
presented  shows  a  decrease  in  importation  in  1908,  as 
compared  with  1890. 

In  respect  to  whale  and  fish  oil,  imports  from  New- 
foundland and  Labrador  led,  but  the  increase  in  the 
value  of  the  imports  from  Norway  is  to  be  noted,  as 
is  their  high  grade.  The  growth  of  such  imports  from 
Japat.  was   also   remarkable.     The  value  of  the  total 


importation  of  sponges,  of  which  77  per  cent  repre- 
sents the  value  of  sponges  obtained  from  the  British 
West  Indies  and  Cuba,  was  less  in  1908  than  in  either 
1890  or  1900. 

Canada  supplied  the  greatest  value  of  imports  of 
fishery  products,  contributing  37  per  cent  of  the  total 
in  1908,  the  same  proportion  in  1900,  and  51  per  cent 
in  1890.  Imports  from  Europe  furnished  54  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  the  imports  in  1908;  but  the  European 
country  which  led  in  this  respect,  the  United  King- 
dom, though  ranking  second  to  Canada,  supplied  im- 
ports valued  at  less  than  half  of  the  value  of  the 
Canadian  product.  The  value  of  imports  from  the 
United  Kingdom  formed  17  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  of  our  imports  of  fishery  products  in  both  1908 
and  1900  and  9  per  cent  in  1890. 

Norway  and  Sweden,  next  in  importance,  supplied 
15  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  imports  in  1908, 
and  the  Netherlands  9  per  cent.  The  value  of  the 
imports  from  the  Netherlands  formed  in  1908  about 
the  same  proportion  of  the  total  value  as  in  1900,  but 
a  slightly  larger  proportion  than  in  1890,  while  for 
Norway  the  increase  shown  was  more  rapid  than  for 
any  of  the  other  leading  countries.  Of  the  total  value 
of  imports  from  Norway  and  Sweden  in  1908, 
$1,927,412  represents  the  value  of  importations  from 
Norway  and  $95,874  that  of  importations  from  Sweden. 

\ATiile  imports  from  Canada,  the  United  Kingdom, 
Norway  and  Sweden  combined,  and  the  Netherlands 
have  increased  in  value  absolutely  and  relatively  since 
1890,  those  from  France  have  lost  both  in  absolute 
and  in  relative  value  since  1900.  The  imports  from 
Belgium  and  the  West  Indies  have  also  fallen  off  in 
value  since  1900.  The  values  credited  to  these  three 
countries  in  1908  are,  however,  greater  than  the  cor- 
responding figures  for  1890.  In  1890  imports  from 
France  ranked  second  in  value,  those  from  Canada 
being  first.  In  1900  the  former  were  surpassed  only  by 
those  from  the  United  Kingdom  and  Canada;  while  in 
1908  France  ranked  fifth.  Tliis  loss  of  position  was  due, 
especially,  to  a  decrease  in  the  importation  of  sardines. 

The  great  increase  in  the  value  of  the  Norwegian 
imports  was  made  up  largely  of  increases  in  the  value 
of  anchovies,  as  well  as  in  the  values  of  mackerel  and 
miscellaneousfish.  Pickled  orsalted  herring  accounted 
chiefly  for  the  increase  in  value  shown  for  the  L^nited 
Kingdom,  but  there  was  also  a  large  gain  in  the  value 
of  imports  of  miscellaneous  fish  from  that  country. 
The  increase  in  the  value  of  Canadian  imports  was 
common  to  all  commodities  except  dried  or  smoked 
herring,  but  was  most  pronounced  in  the  case  of  fresh 
fish,  preserved  cod,  haddock,  hake,  and  pollack,  miscel- 
laneous shellfish,  and  lobsters. 


EXPORTS  AND  IMPORTS. 

Table  1 EXPORTS  OF  DOMESTIC  FISHERY  PRODUCTS:  1908,  1900,  AND  1890. 


291 


EXPORTS  OF  DOMESTIC  nSHERY  PRODUCTS. 

KIKn  or  PRODUCT. 

1908 

1900 

1890 

Quantity 
(pounds"). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Quantity 
(pounds). 

Value. 

Total 

t6, 166, 193 

$6,163,113 

17,336,993 

Fish: 

Salmon — 

28,226,045 

2,438,518 
1,648,044 

87,379 

179,987 

31,575 

8,056 

16,877 

68,148 

158,879 

12,532 

663,832 
281,786 

93,261 

8,146 

210,444 

168.426 

90,334 

27,082,370 

2,693,648 
536,276 

59,734 

404,212 
82,407 
86,684 

14,352 
99,627 
133,244 
100,786 

807,243 
416,212 

184,403  ' 
24,7t)6 

494,276 
32,199 
24.044 

28,781,061 

3,269,344 

Other 

69,042 

All  other- 
Fresh .      . 

1,777,718 

3,385,573 
858,062 
174,053 

1,557,005 

9,739.573 

3,706,897 

963,774 

1,043,162 

17.030,019 
3,664,704 
1,518,790 

48,086 

Dried,  smoked,  and  cured— 

('od,  haddock,  hake,  and  pollack 

793,186 

103.091 

All  other 

83.968 

Pickled- 
Mackerel 

15,512 

All  other 

120,524 

143,599 

Caviar 

Shellfish: 

837,239 

All  other 

372,238 

Other  fishery  products: 

Fish  oil 

■306,439 

'  18,507 

53,167 

247,518 

> 795,642 

160,214 

196,001 

71,642 

1,2  1,844,041 

1,  3  162,665 

190,484 

M40.773 

Whaleoil 

» 124.601 

Whalebone 

Sponges 

All  other.          

705,500 
25,293 

194.997 

'  Includes  whale  oil. 


'  Sperm  oil.    Whale  oil  included  with  fish  oil. 


Table  2.— VALUE   OF  EXPORTS   OF  DOMESTIC  FISHERY  PRODUCTS,   BY  COUNTRY  TO   WHICH   EXPORTED: 

1908,  1900,  AND  1890. 


COUNTRY  TO  WHICTI   EXPORTED. 


All  countries - 


Europe 

Oermany 

United  KinKdoin 

All  other  countries 

North  America 

Canada,  Newfoundland,  and  Labrador.. 

Ontral  America 

Mexico 

West  Indies 

Cuba 

Other  islands 

All  other  countries 

South  America 

Argentina 

Brazil 

Chile 

.\lt  other  eoontrles 


Asia. 

Oceania 

Africa 

Countries,  islands,  and  ports  not  reported  separalely. 


VALUE  OF  EXPORT-S  OF  DOMESTIC 
FISHERY  PRODUCTS. 


1908 


,604,806 
620.674 
597.769 
486,363 
084.384 
454,291 
177,699 
l(i3,S63 
271,325 

73,064 
198,271 

17,216 
658,904 
100,907 

77,790 
316,760 
163,447 
141,176 
(■.15,318 

61.606 


$6,163,113 


3,533,9'5 

574, 144 

2.489,488 

470,343 

1,094,720 

516,062 

44,880 

66,577 
467,039 

90,163 

376,876 

162 

455,978 

45,295 
155,039 

89.888 
168,786 
284,374 
683,498 
110,668 


1890 


$7,336,993 


4,82n,7''0 

650,290 

3,849,099 

321, -rfS 

1,2P,886 

228,067 

62,935 

39.379 

887,130 

56,005 

831,125 

378 

275,868 

30,826 

11,226 

33,336 

200,481 

284,971 

691,779 

41,742 

33,950 


292  FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

Table  3.— IMPORTS  OF  FISHERY  PRODUCTS,  BY  KIND  AND  COUNTRY  FROM  WHICH  IMPORTED:  1908,  1900,  AND  1890. 


KIKD  OF  PEODDCT  AND  COlfNTRT  FROM   WIBICH  IMPOKTED. 


Total. 


Fish: 

Fresh 

Salmon 

Canada 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 

All  other  (except  shellfish) 

Canada 

All  other  countries 


Cured  or  preserved 

Anchovies  and  sardines,  packed  in  oil  or  otherwise  treated . 

Norway 

France 

Portugal 

Italy 

Spam 

United  Kingdom 

Belgium 

Germany 

All  other  countries 


Cod,  haddock,  hake,  and  pollack,  dried,  smoked,  salted,  or  pickled  . 

Canada 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador 

Norway 

West  Indies 

All  other  countries 


Herring 

Dried  or  smoked 

Canada 

Netherlands 

United  Kingdom. . 

Norway 

All  other  countries. 


Pickled  or  salted 

Netherlands 

United  Kingdom 

Norway 

Sweden 

Canada 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 

Germany 

All  other  countries 


Mackerel,  pickled  or  salted 

United  Kingdom 

Norway 

Sweden 

Canada 

Netherlands 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 
All  other  countries 


Salmon,  pickled  or  salted 

Canada 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 
All  other  countries 


All  other  (except  shellfish) . 

United  Kmgdom 

Canada 

Norway 

Japan 

Germany 

Italy 

All  other  countries 


Lobster,  canned  or  uncanned 

Canada 

British  South  Africa 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador. 
All  other  countries 


Shrimp  and  other  shellfish  (except  lobsters)  and  turtles. 

Canada 

Japan 

West  Indies 

Hongkong 

Mexico 

Chinese  Empire 

All  other  countries 

Sounds,  fish 

Canada 

United  Kingdom 

Venezuela 

European  Russia 

British  India 

All  other  countries 


IMPOETS  OF  FISHERT  PEODDCTS. 


1908 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,140,381 
1,140,381 


15,831,540 

12,959,677 

1,819,577 

901,335 

105,000 

45,951 

73,163,909 

2,035,135 

1,090,734 

799,828 

75,524 

51,886 

17,163 

71,128,774 

26,359,077 

27,326,546 

9,359,233 

512,440 

5, 170, 344 

1,904,470 

413,990 

82,674 

20,956,891 

9,997,749 

6,403,247 

577,258 

3,277,799 

1,650,180 

33,400 

17,258 

1,079,168 

1,017,884 

56,700 

4,584 


8,212,945 

8,063,752 

136, 173 

5,310 

7,710 


Value. 


$13,135,724 


1,772,164 
120,032 
120,032 


1,652,132 

1,639,946 

12, 186 

8,671,876 

2,219,549 

772,411 

761,669 

318,290 

121,259 

66,874 

62,994 

31,153 

24,078 

60,821 

870,757 
679,237 
93,499 
86,285 
9,022 
2,714 

2,479,273 
67,788 
31,055 
31,211 
2,769 
1,990 
763 

2,411,485 

1,030,803 

1,006,368 

209,826 

12,652 

105,524 

29,309 

14,254 

2,689 

1,439,359 

608,679 

.488,195 

51,, 322 

209,782 

78, 192 

1,766 

1,433 

109,849 

106,629 

3,003 

217 

1,553,089 
394,781 
294,695 
214,487 
162,310 
138,857 
128,625 
219,334 

1,401,449 

1,375,315 

22,879 

1,504 

1,751 

333,606 
135,958 
90,515 
29,430 
22,182 
22,166 
17,449 
15,906 

113,675 
62,365 
22,721 
13,907 
6,706 
4,113 
3,863 


1900 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


1,199,079 

1,195,922 

3,157 


Value. 


$8,230,121 


14,395,483 
9,885,426 
1,916,167 
'671,946 
43,525 
1,878,419 

36,374,217 

5,130,813 

4,605,133 

69,123 

299,322 

'  38,719 

118,616 

31,243,404 

12,191,397 

8,960,272 

'6,352,369 


3,361,547 
943,545 
356,888 
87,386 

18,546,554 
13,630,662 
'2,273,537 


2,054,621 

676,971 

1,400 

9,363 

736,658 

404,397 

$31,661 

600 


7,497,227 

7,328,853 

143,815 

17,419 

7,140 


1,245,542 

115,069 

114,880 

189 

1,130,473 

1,126,498 

3,975 

5,181,275 

1,483,768 

>  66,247 

1,189,125 

110,434 

29,059 

2,363 

20,469 

51,965 

6,909 

17,197 

543,172 
351,564 
82,676 
'  43,048 
2,724 
63,160 

1,482,568 

127,555 

107,800 

3,661 

12,043 

'  l,a!7 

3,014 

1,355,013 
674,665 
375,686 

1199,327 


57,416 
23,169 

21,491 
3,359 

1,276,900 

855,440 

1233,943 


140,927 

45,805 

60 

725 

64,236 

29,608 

24,587 

41 

340,631 
61,467 
63,465 

•85,926 
3,077 
25,962 
10,733 

100,001 

931,219 

915,300 

10,993 

3,431 

1,435 

62,415 
16,345 
3,804 
3,673 
5,278 
11,665 
15,794 
6,056 


1890 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


853,963 
853,963 


41,727,190 

40,372,180 

1,365,010 


12,750,312 
8,642,981 
2,249,082 
1  108,769 


1,749,490 

31,690,573 

6,502,573 

5,608,964 

96,670 

10,130 

'701,288 

85,521 

25,088,000 
7,893,200 
2,035,000 

■5.541,800 


4,606,800 

2,806,600 

2,158,200 

46,400 

14,087,400 
4,782,400 
1  609,000 


8,567,600 


3.000 
125,400 

789,200 
395,400 
393,800 


'  Norway  and  Sweden. 


'  Not  reported  separately. 


EXPORTS  AND  IMPORTS. 


293 


Table  3.— IMPORTS  OF  FISHERY  PRODUCTS,  BY  KIND  AND  COUNTRY   FROM  WHICH  IMPORTED:  1908,  1900,  AND 

1890— Continued. 


KIND  OF  PRODUCT  AND   COX7MTRY   FROM   "WHICH  IMPORTKD. 


Whale  and  fish  oil 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador . 

Norway 

Japan 

Canada 

United  Kingdom 

Gennany 

All  other  countries 


Whalebone 

Asiatic  Russia. . . . 
United  Kingdom. 


Sponge 

British  West  Indies . 

Cuba 

United  Kingdom 

Greece 

All  other  countries... 


mpoRTa  or  risHEST  productk. 


1908 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


•1,221,065 

673,019 

254,790 

221,993 

140,565 

20,823 

9,008 

877 

9,054 

8,899 
155 


t40e,113 

154,663 

153,873 

47,722 

35,243 

11,411 

4,683 

518 

43,633 

43,560 

73 

391,208 
174,961 
125,779 
50,827 
26,190 
13, 451 


1900 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


>  851,372 

204,213 

'265,710 

40 

349,556 

2, 4.-i4 

27,529 

1,890 


Value. 


$273,367 

48.339 

'  133,938 

10 

76,170 

1,121 

13, 193 

596 


536,303 

293,016 

133,033 

79,466 

18, 135 

12,653 


1890 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


< 267,379 

11,578 

'147,824 

6,300 

67,847 

4,293 

26,397 

3,140 

19,040 


(•) 


Value. 


S85,436 

2,730 

» 56,977 

1,828 

12,857 

1,602 

8,541 

901 

23,295 


(•) 

416,718 
214,883 
26,741 
115,205 
48,131 
11,758 


'Oallons.  » Norway  and  Sweden.  •  Not  reported.  . 

Table  4.— VALUE  OF  IMPORTS  OF  FISHERY  PRODUCTS,  BY  COUNTRY  FROM  WHICH  IMPORTED:  1908,  1900,  AND  1890. 


COUNTRY   FROM   WHICH  IMPORTED. 


All  countries  . 


Europe  . 


United  Kingdom 

Norway  and  Sweden  . 

Netiierlands 

France 

Portugal 

Italy 

Germany 

Spain 

Belgium 

All  other  countries  . . . 


North  America . 


Canada 

West  Indies 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador  . 

Mexico 

All  other  countries 


Asia. 


Japan  

Honglcong 

Chinese  Empire 

AH  other  countries  . 


Africa 

South  America 

Oceania 

Countries,  Islands,  and  ports  not  separately  reported  . 


VALUE  OF  IMPORTS  OF  FISHERY  PRODUCTS. 


1908 


»13. 135,724 


7,126,849 


170,057 

023,286 

162,712 

788,711 

346, 646 

253,261 

191,207 

85.737 

31,587 

73,645 


6,485,447 


4,797,133 

342,867 

293, 932 

47,806 

3,720 

483,769 


310,011 
63,912 
66,326 
53,520 

24,599 

14,783 

277 


1900 


$8,230,121 


4,420.482 


1,400,280 
753.838 
758, 678 
1,196,862 
110,434 
39,939 
70,914 
2,090 
56,144 
30,703 

3,720,942 


3,000,678 
436,486 
189,737 
23,920 
70, 121 

74,907 


7,282 

21,181 

46,105 

339 

12,460 

1,102 

228 


1890 


$5,815,284 


2,157,527 


551,423 

287,359 

479,388 

634,587 

20,060 

12,696 

103,  ore 

57 

13,854 

55,024 

3,667,827 


2,988,288 

256,059 

281,739 

3,883 

37,853 

66,110 


2,915 

9,618 

63,498 

78 


3 

367 

23,460 


APPENDICES. 


Appendix  A.— THE  FISHERIES  OF  ALASKA  IN  1908. 
Appendix  B.— SCHEDULES: 

SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES. 

VESSEL  FISHERIES. 

PACKING  HOUSES  AND  CANNERIES. 

Appendix  C— INSTRUCTIONS  TO  SPECIAL  AGENTS. 


(295) 


APPENDIX  A. 


THE  FISHERIES  OF  ALASKA  IN  1908. 


By  Millard  C.  Marsh,  Agent  at  the  Salmon  Fieheries  of  Alaska,  and  John  N.  Cobb,  Assistant  Agent. 


SUMMARIZED  STATISTICS. 


As  in  the  reports  for  previoue  years,  the  District  of  Alaska  is  con- 
sidered in  the  four  geographic  sections  generally  recognized,  as 
follows:  Southeast  Alaska,  embracing  all  that  narrow  strip  of  main- 
land, and  the  numerous  islands  adjacent,  from  Portland  Canal 
northwestward  to  and  including  Yakutat  Bay;  central  Alaska,  the 
region  on  the  Pacific,  or  south  side,  from  Yakutat  Bay  westward, 
including  the  Aleutian  chain;  western  Alaska,  the  shores  of  Bering 
Sea,  and  islands  in  this  sea;  and  arctic  Alaska,  from  Bering  Strait 
to  the  Canadian  border. 

With  the  exception  of  arctic  Alaska  and  a  portion  of  western 
Alaska,  practically  all  of  the  fishing  localities  were  visited  by  one  or 
the  other  of  the  agents.  Statistics  of  the  yield  of  fur  seals  from  the 
Pribilof  Islands  were  obtained  through  the  courtesy  of  the  agent  at 
the  fur  seal  islands,  while  figures  for  the  other  aquatic  furs  (except 
the  coast  fur  seals  and  sea  otter)  and  skins,  also  the  whalebone  and 
walrus  ivory,  were  obtained  from  the  customhouse  records  at 
Juneau.  Considerable  commercial  fishing  is  carried  on  in  the 
Yukon  River  and  its  tributaries,  where  fish  wheels,  nets,  and  spears 
are  employed,  but  unfortunately  it  has  been  found  impossible 
BO  far,  owing  to  the  short  time  available  each  season  and  the  few 
agents  emploj'ed,  to  extend  the  inspection  work  over  this  large 
region,  or  to  secure  data  showing  the  extent  of  the  fisheries  there. 

As  in  previous  years,  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  fishery  prod- 
ucts of  Alaska  are  marketed  outside  the  district,  but  a  steadily  in- 
creasing local  demand  is  noticeable,  especially  in  the  case  of  the 
hitherto  somewhat  neglected  minor  species. 

PERSONS   ENGAGED. 

The  number  of  persons  engaged  in  the  fisheries  of  Alaska  in  1908 
wajs  13,337,  of  whom  4,976  were  engaged  directly  in  fishing,  7,740 
in  the  canneries,  salteries,  and  at  other  shore  work,  and  621  employed 
on  the  transporting  vessels.    This  total  is  a  gain  of  585  over  the 


number  employed  in  1907.  The  fact  that  the  fishermen  act  as 
sailors  on  the  transporting  ships  to  and  from  the  salmon  canneries 
and  salteries  explains  the  small  number  of  transporters  shown  in 
the  table.  Owing  to  the  impossibility  of  the  agents  visiting  arctic 
Alaska  in  the  limited  open  season,  thus  making  It  difficult  to  secure 
accurate  data,  no  attenpt  has  been  made  to  show  the  number  of 
men  employed  and  the  investment  in  the  fisheries  of  this  region, 
although  certain  of  the  products  are  shown  in  the  proper  table. 

Persons  engaged  in  the  Alaska  fisheries  in  1908. 


OCCUPATION  AND  RACE. 

Southeast 
Alaska. 

Central 
Alaska. 

Western 
Alaska. 

Total. 

Fishermen: 
Whites    . 

1,193 

1,2S8 

27 

663 
103 

1,554 
138 

3,410 
1,539 

Total 

2,518 

766 

1,682 

4,976 

Shoresmen: 
Whites 

519 
886 
765 
43.5 

307 
165 
393 
374 

1,003 
430 
860 

1,603 

1,829 

Chinese 

2,018 
2,412 

Total 

2,605 

1,239 

3,896 

7,740 

Transporters: 

Whites 

263 

40 

144 
2 

165 
7 

Indians 

49 

Total 

303 

146 

172 

621 

5,426 

2,151 

5,760 

13,337 

INVESTMENT. 


The  total  investment  in  the  fisheries  was  $10,319,784,  an  increase 
of  $1,103,756  over  1907.  The  item  of  cash  capital  was  eliminated  in 
the  1906  report,  and  this  procedure  has  been  followed  ever  since. 


INVESTMENT  IN  THE  ALASKA  FISHERIES  IN  1908. 


ITEM. 

SOUTnEAST  AI.ASEA. 

CENTEAL  ALASKA. 

WESTERN  ALASKA. 

TOTAl. 

Number. 

Value. 

Number. 

.  Value. 

Number. 

Value. 

Number. 

Value. 

Fishing  vessels: 

30 
475 

15 
176 

87 

1,808 

8 

7,385 

1,205 

4 
1 

$171,815 

30 
475 

17 
237 

160 

6,422 

49 

57,055 

2,856 

14 
>1 

$171,815 

1 

13,800 

2 
61 

27 

1,302 

13 

13,310 

710 

$3,800 

1 

Tonnage                                                             .                

1 

Transporting  vcs.sels: 

Steamers  and  laimches .     .                .                  

412,300  i 

239,100 

46 

3,312 

28 

36,360 

941 

$710,450 

1,361,850 

Sailing                                                                     

159,900  1 

326,300 

629,400 

1,115,600 

Boats 

165,  i34  ; 

2,800 

310 

7,905 

88,560 

303,317 

557,011 

Apparatus,  vessel  fisheries: 

I'urse  seines                 

2,800 
310 

Lines                                .     .                     

7,905 

30 

360 

30 

360 

Gun  and  harpoons 

.• 

275  1 



275 

>  Aggregat«  length  of  2,400  yards. 


'  Aggregate  length  of  300  yards. 


(297) 


298 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 

INVESTMENT  IN  THE  ALASKA  FISHERIES  IN  1908— Continued. 


SOUTHEAST   ALASKA. 

CENTRAL  ALASKA. 

WESTERN  ALASKA. 

TOTAL. 

Number. 

Value. 

Number. 

Value. 

1 

Number. 

Value. 

Number. 

Value. 

Apparatus,  shore  fisheries: 

82 

126 

187 

18 

50 

16 

1 

6 

10 

$21,301 

39,464 

23,690 

14 

133,900 

20, 100 

1,000 

9 

7 

5,848 

9 

2,660,547 

44 
28 
42 
14 
21 
1 

118,115 

7,160 

3,300 

7 

30,850 

1,500 

1126 

»164 

•  143 

32 

85 

16 

1 

6 

10 

$39, 416 

46,614 

GUI  nets.                

914 

$75,835 

ia2,825 

21 

14 

16,325 

181,075 

21,600 

Wheels                                                                               

1,000 

9 

7 

2,870 

3 

1,280,341 

8,718 

Hoes                                                                       

12 

5 

17 

12 

2,842,073 

6,682,961 

Total 

3,740,128 

2,002,256 

4,677,400 

10,319,784 

1 

1  Aggregate  length  of  60,452  yards. 


PRODUCTS. 


'  Aggregate  length  of  66,160  yards. 


'  Aggregate  length  of  265,05(i  yards. 


The  total  quantity  of  products  was  217,813,415  pounds,  valued  at 
$11,847,443,  a  gain  of  39,455,114  pounds  and  $1,687,260  over  1907. 
Except  for  fertilizer,  oil,  furs,  and  hides,  the  weights  are  round 
weights,  or  the  weight  of  products  when  first  taken  from  the  water; 
the  prepared  products  weights  are  shown  in  the  subsidiary  tables 


of  the  report.  Flounders,  pollock,  rock  cod,  whitefish,  whale  meat, 
and  seaweed  appear  in  the  table  for  the  first  time  this  year.  Whale- 
bone and  walrus  ivory  are  the  only  products  reported  from  arctic 
Alaska.  As  has  been  stated,  it  was  found  an  impossibility  to  secure 
even  approximate  data  as  to  the  persons  engaged  or  the  investment 
in  the  hunting  of  aquatic  animals  (except  sea  otter  and  fur  seals), 
which  is  general  among  the  natives. 


PRODUCTS  OF  ALASKA  FISHERIES  IN  1908. 


Product. 

SOUTHEASI 

ALASKA. 

CENTRAL 

ALASKA. 

WESTERN 

ALASKA. 

ARCTIC  ALASKA. 

TOTAL. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Pounds.      Value. 

1 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Black  cod: 

21,082 
20,250 

12,000 
10,667 

$840 
489 

600 

225 

21,082 
20,250 

12,000 

5,369,066 

200 

22,100 

2,820 

27,000 

200 

7,500 

4,589,427 
958.360 
144,219 

763,750 

1,333,600 

2,700 

17,900 
7,650 

29,500 
600 

23,000 

8,000 

798,289 

58,  .500 

33,887 

110,737 

5,246 

19,346 

4,817,923 
15,295,910 
45.089,310 

1,661,065 
115,624,286 

1,689,700 

186,840 
32,940 
633,420 
163,620 
8,239.590 

27,733 
28,500 

12,000 

100 

36,000 

$840 

Salted 



489 

Cod: 

Fresh 

600 

Salted                                

5,358,399 

200 

21,800 

$131,953 

1,962 

;:;:;::::::::i:::;:::::;:; 

132.178 

7 

300 

2,820 

27,000 

,200 

7;  600 

4,569,427 
958,360 
144,219 

753,750 
1,311,200 

28 

113 

700 

10 

225 

144,419 

25,194 

4,929 

5,020 
17,660 

1,990 

Eulachon: 

113 

Salted 



70O 

10 

225 

HaUbut: 

30,000 

1,200 

145,619 

25, 194 

4,929 

Herring: 

10,000 
22,400 
2,700 

6,500 

300 
680 
108 

325 

5,320 

Salted 

18,330 

Pollack                                                  .  ..  . 

108 

Redflsh,  or  black  bass: 

11,400 

7,660 

17,500 
600 

18,000 

8,000 

798,289 

42,500 

33,887 

110,737 

5,245 

19,345 

3,420,093 
12,614,280 
41,484,600 
174,265 
13,122,025 

1,290,300 

159,840 

32,940 

608,310 

570 
230 

875 
36 

180 

60 

46,858 

340 

813 

1,003 

126 

564 

194,213 

4.52, 678 

1,589.412 

10,356 

874,475 

62,451 

4,898 

707 

17, 191 

895 

230 

Rock  cod: 
Fresh 

12,000 

480 

1,365 

36 

Salmon: 
Fresh— 

Coho,  or  silver 

5,000 

150 

. 

330 

60 

46,868 

16,000 

480 

820 

Frozen — 

• 

813 

Dog,  or  chum 



1,063 

126 

664 

Canned- 

808,010 

46,172 

589.820 

2,681,6:!0 

1.458,380 

1,037,680 

76. 104,  770 

$33,704 

101,519 

58,294 

62.471 

4.928.919 

274,089 

554,197 

2,146,270 

449, 120 

26,397,490 

299,400 

27,000 

85,673 

27,040 

1,720,857 

15,360 

750 

1,733,379 

99,867 

7,524,251 

Mild-cured— 

77,811 

Pickled- 

5,648 

707 

Humpback,  or  pLrik '  ■ 

25,110 

162,000 

7,647,310 

744 

6,333 

241,405 

17,935 

1,620 
653,400 

480 
19,480 

6,813 

38,880 
27,733 

1..389 
416 

262,274 

Dry-salted-- 

416 

28,500 
12,000 

286 
1,000 

285 

Smoked- 

1,000 

100 

12 

12 

Red,  or  soekeye 

36,666 

3,000 

3,000 

APPENDIX. 

PRODUCTS  OF  ALASKA  FISHERIES  IN  1908— Continued. 


299 


PKODUCT. 

SOUTHEAST  ALASKA. 

CENTRAL 

ALASKA. 

WESTERN 

ALASKA. 

ARCTIC  ALASKA 

TOTAL. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Poimds. 

Value. 

Pounds.     Value. 

Pounds. 

Value. 

Salmon  bellies,  salted: 

Coho,  or  silver 

36,100 

111,150 

2,260,325 

$380 

699 

27,660 

181,450 

$3,155 

217,560 

111,150 

2,298,325 

45,600 

1,784,250 

15 

1.504 

52,200 
8,000 
8,000 

2,900 

30,681 

50 

1,496,000 

374,000 

1,066.400 

1819,000 

> 204, 750 

•1,232,850 

<8,000 

'26,400 

•1,280 
'3,964 

«3,332 
»160 

'»92,580 

"19,416 

13,745 

1.000 

63.640 

810 

$3,535 

Humpback,  or  pink 

38,000 

480 



28  140 

45,600 
60.000 

1720 
1.080 

720 

Red,  orsockeye 

33,250 

15 

1,604 

39,200 
8.000 
8.000 

2.900 

30,681 

60 

1,496.000 

374.000 

1,06<).400 

819.000 

204. 760 

1,232.860 

6,000 

9.000 

743 

67 

1.495 

386 
3 

66 

1,340 
180 
480 

116 

982 

3 

24,000 
6,000 
16, 126 

21,600 
5,400 

49,036 
300 
475 

3.730 
119 

5.411 

1,691,000 

24,770 

26,236 
3 

Salmon  eecs... 

Smelt 

66 

Trout: 

Dolly  Varden— 

Fresh 

13,000 

650 

1,990 
180 

Rainbow 

480 

Steelhead— 

Fresh 

lie 

Frozen     . 

982 

Whlteflsh 



3 

Fertilizer: 

24,000 

6  000 

Whale 

16, 126 
21  600 

Oil: 

Herring 

5.400 

Whale 

49  036 

Clfttnn 

2,000 
17,400 

252 
253 

1,637 
145 

804 

50 
2,300 

1,332 
300 

5,982 
6,300 

2,680 

350 

Crabs 

2,775 

6,461 
6,257 

12,060 
7,050 

459,960 

3,350 

9,393 

35 

Aquatic  furs  and  skins: 

285 
3,644 

200 

15 

89,784 
14,796 

1.399 
5,838 

667 
750 

448,920 
2.405 

Muskrat 

: 

Otter- 

Sea 

Seal- 
Fur 

1.992 
4,620 
3 
1.000 
10.209 
810 

8,350 

945 

3 

35 

2,259 

203 

Hair 

13,742 

t9,390 

Whale  meat  (tails),  salted 

Whalebone 

53,431 

200.502 

202,761 
203 

Seaweed 

Total 

89.035.468 

3.636.642 

38,289.750 

2,105,741 

89,821.024 

5.895.168 

67,173        209  892 

217.813,415 

11,847,443 

'  Represents  109,200  gallons. 
'  Represents  27,300  gallons. 
>  Repre-sents  104,380  gallons. 
*  Represents  850  bushels. 


•  Represents  8,800  crabs. 

•  Represents  1,280  skins. 

'  Represents  31,712  skins. 

•  Represents  1,333  skins. 


*  Represents  32  skins. 
10  Represents  15.430  skins. 
>'  Represents  6,472  skins. 


APPENDIX  B. 


SCHEDULES. 


SHORE  AND  BOAT  FISHERIES. 

[AllBhore  and  boat  fisheries  must  bo  reported  on  this  schedule.  If  packing 
houses  or  canneries  are  operated  under  the  same  ownership,  a  report  should 
alsobemadeon  Schedule  EE3— 249.  Vessel  fisheries  should  not  belncluded 
In  this  report  but  should  be  reported  on  Schedule  EEa— 248.] 


Name  of  company  or  individual  operating  the  fishery 

Post  office  (give  city,  street,  and  number) 

Location County State. . 


(Givenameor  description  of  water  upon  which  flshlngoperatlonsareconducted.) 


WASmNQTON,  D.  C,  January  J,,  1909. 

The  act  of  Congress  of  June  7, 1906,  authorizes  the  Director  of  the  Census,  in  coop- 
eration with  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  to  take  a  census  of  the  fishing  industry. 

The  information  returned  on  this  schedule  should  cover  the  business  year  most 
nearly  conforming  to  the  year  ending  December  31 .  1908.  All  questions  that  require 
a  fixed  time,  such  as  cash  on  hand  and  values  of  property,  should  be  of  the  date  of 
the  beginning  of  the  year  covered  by  the  report. 

A II  answers  will  be  held  absolutely  confidential.  No  publication  will  be  made  in  the 
Census  reports  disclosing  the  operations  of  individuals  or  companies  in  any  par- 
ticular, and  the  information  will  be  used  only  for  the  statistical  purposes  for  which  it 
was  given. 

The  canvass  will  be  made  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  W.  M.  Steuart,  chief 

statistician  for  manufactures. 

S.  N.  D.  North, 

Director  of  the  Census. 


Extract  from  act  of  Congress,  March  3, 1899: 

Section  22.—  *  *  *  "And  every  president,  treasurer,  secretary,  director,  agent, 
or  other  officer  of  every  corporation,  and  every  establishment  of  productive  industry, 
whether  conducted  as  a  corporate  body,  limited  liability  company,  or  by  private 
individuals,  from  which  answers  to  any  of  the  schedules,  inquiries,  or  statistical 
interrogatories  provided  for  by  this  act  are  herein  required,  who  shall,  if  thereto 
requested  by  the  Director ,  supervisor,  enumerator,  orspecial  agent,  willfully  neglect 
or  refuse  to  give  true  and  complete  answers  to  any  inquiries  authorized  by  this  act, 
or  shall  willfully  give  false  information,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon 
conviction  thereof  shall  lie  fined  not  exceeding  ten  thousand  dollars,  to  which  may 
be  added  imprisoiunent  for  a  period  not  exceeding  one  year." 

CERTIFICATE. 

This  is  to  certify  that  the  information  contained  in  this  schedule  is  complete  and 

correctto  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief,  and  covers  the  period  from , 

190..., to 190.... 


(Signature  of  special  agent.) 


(Signature  of  the  person  furnishing  the 
information.) 


Each  question  should  be  answered;  if  any  inquiry  is  not  applicable  and  no  answer 
can  be  made,  write  the  word  "None." 

1.  CAPITAL  INVESTED— OWNED  AND  BORROWED:  The  answer  must 
show  the  total  amoimt  of  capital,  both  owned  and  borrowed.  All  the  items  of 
fixed  and  live  capital  may  be  taken  at  the  amounts  carried  on  the  books.  If 
land  or  buildings  are  rented,  that  factt  should  be  stated  and  the  value  given.  The 
value  of  all  items  of  live  capital,  bills  receivable,  unsettled  ledger  accounts, 
materials,  products,  and  cash  on  hand,  etc.,  should  be  given  as  of  the  beginning 
of  the  business  year  reported. 


Motor  boats 

Sailboats 

Rowboats 

Scows 

Abalone  outfits 

Bag  nets 

Beamtrawls, otter  trawls 

Bow  nets 

Cast  nets 

Crawfish  iwts 

(300) 


Num- 
ber. 


Value. 


Cunner  nets,  cunner 
traps,  snap  nets 

Dip  nets 

Dredges,  tongs,  rakes, 
forks,  nippers,  scrapes, 
grabs,  shovels 

Eel  pots  and  traps 

Firearms,  guns,  rifles, 
bomb  guns 

Fyke  nets,  hoop  nets 


Num- 
ber. 


Value. 


ITEM. 

Num- 
ber. 

Value. 

ITEM. 

Num- 
ber. 

Value. 

S 

Wheels  and  slides.  .     .. 

s 

Harpoons,  spears,  eel  gigs 

1 

Lines— hand,  trawl,  and 
set 

Land,    buildings,   machinery, 
tools,   implements,   and    all 
fixed  capital  for  which  seoa- 

Otter  and  musk  rat  traps 
Paranzella  nets 

rate  values  are  not  give 
Cash,  bills  receivable,  un 

settled 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets, 

ledger  accounts,  materials  on 
hand,  and  sundries  not  re- 

Total 

Shrimp  nets 

Sponge  apparatus,  hooks, 
water  glasses,  and  div- 

(If  more  than   one  blank  is 
filled  out  for  the  same  individ- 
ual or  company,  the  last  two 
items  may  be  reported  on  one 
blank.) 

Stop  nets    .             ... 

2.  PROPRIETORS,  FIRM  MEMBERS,  AND   INDEPENDENT   FISHER- 
MEN: Number 


If  any  of  the  proprietors  or  firm  members  reported  above] 

were  not  personally  engaged  in  fishing,  give  the  numbers  Number 

not  so  engaged:  ) 

3.  SALARIED   EMPLOYEES:  Number Amount  paid  in  salaries. 


(Salaried  officers,  managers,  clerks,  etc.) 


4.    WAGE-EARNERS  (not    including   employees 
reported  above). 


Fishermen 

Shoresmen   (not    including  employees    of  packing 

houses)    

Estimated  cost  of  provisions  supplied  to  employees 

(not  to  be  included  in  wages) 


Niunber. 


Total  amount 
paid  in  wages 
during  year. 


QUANTITY  AND  VALUE  OF  YEAR'S  CATCH:  Report  all  fishery  prod- 
ucts, including  aquatic  mammals,  reptiles,  shellfish,  sponges,  etc. ,  taken  during 
the  year.  Give  uie  name  and  total  quantity  and  value  of  each  species  caught 
by  each  kind  of  apparatus.  If  the  "pounds"  is  not  known  and  can  not  be 
estimated,  give  tlie  "bushels"  or  "number"  and  state  what  unit  of  measure 
is  used. 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS  USED.     (SPECIFY.) 

Pounds. 

Value. 
S 

Pounds. 

Value. 
t 

Founds. 

Value. 
t 

Pounds. 

Value. 
t 

1 

APPENDIX. 


801 


VESSEL  FISHERIES. 

[All  vessel  fisheries  must  be  reported  on  this  schedolo.  It  packing 
houseji  or  ciinncrios  are  operated  under  the  same  ownership,  a  report  should 
also  1)0  made  on  Schedule  E  E3-249.  Shore  and  boat  fisheries  should  not  be 
included  in  this  report,  but  should  be  reported  on  Schedule  EEl-247.] 


Name  of  company  or  individual  for  whom  this  report  is  made. 

Post  office  (give  city,  street,  and  number) 

County State 

Name  of  vessel Net  tonnage 

Hailing  port Fishing  port 


Washington,  D.  C,  January  i,  1909. 

The  act  of  Congress  of  June  7,  1906,  authorizes  the  Director  of  the  Census,  in 
cooperation  with  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  to  take  a  census  of  the  fishing  industry 

The  information  returned  on  this  schedule  should  cover  the  business  year 
most  nearly  conforming  to  the  year  ending  December  31,  1908.  All  questions  that 
require  a  fixed  time,  such  as  cash  on  hand  and  values  of  property,  should  be  of  the 
date  of  the  beginning  of  the  year  covered  by  the  report. 

All  ansutns  will  be  held  absolutely  conftdeTUial.  No  publication  will  b»  made 
in  the  Census  reports  disclosing  the  operations  of  individuals  or  companies  in  any 
particular,  and  the  information  will  be  used  only /or  the  statistical  purposes  for  which 
it  was  given. 

The  canvass  will  be  made  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  W.  M.  Steuart,  chief 

statistician  for  manufactures. 

S.  N.  D.  North, 

Director  of  the  Census. 

Extract  from  act  of  Congress,  March  3, 1899: 

Section 22.—  *  •  *  "And  every  president,  treasurer,  secretary,  director, 
agent,  or  other  officer  of  every  corporation,  and  everjr*  establishment  of  productive 
industry,  wHether  conducted  as  a  corporate  body,  limited  liability  company,  or 
by  private  mdividuals,  from  which  answers  to  any  of  the  schedules,  inquiries,  or 
statistical  interrogatories  provided  for  by  this  act  are  herein  required,  who  shall, 
if  thereto  requested  by  the  Director,  supervisor,  enumerator,  or  special  atjent,  will- 
fully neglect  or  refuse  to  give  true  and  complete  answers  to  any  inquu  ios  authorized 
by  this  act,  or  shall  willfully  give  false  information,  shall  be  guilty  of  a  miodemeanor , 
and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  ten  thousand  dollars,  to 
which  may  be  added  imprisonment  for  a  period  not  exceeding  one  year." 

certificate. 

This  Is  to  certify  that  the  information  contained  in  this  schedule  is  complete  and 

correct  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and   belief,  and  covers  the  period  from 

,190..,  to 190... 


(Signature  of  special  agent.) 


(Signature  of  the  person 
furnishing  the  information.) 


Each  question  should  be  answered;  if  any  inquiry  is  not  applicable  and  no  answer 
can  be  made,  write  the  word  '*  None." 

1.  CAPITAL  INVESTED— OWNED  AND  BORROWED:  The  answer  must 
show  the  total  amount  of  capital,  both  owned  and  borrowed.  All  the  items  of 
fixedand  live  capital  may  be  taken  at  the  amounts  carried  on  the  books.  If  land 
or  buildings  are  rented,  or  vessels  are  chartered,  that  fact  should  be  stated  and 
the  value  given.  The  value  of  all  items  of  live  capital,  bills  receivable,  un- 
settled ledger  accounts,  materials,  products,  and  cash  on  hand,  etc.,  should  be 
given  as  of  tlie  beginning  of  the  business  year  reported.  , 


ITEU. 

Num- 
ber. 

Value. 

ITEM. 

Num- 
ber. 

Value. 

Fishiag|Steam  orinotor» 

S 

S 

Sponge  apparatus,  hooks, 
water  glasses,  and  div- 

„                      Steam   or 
Transporting           ^     , 

vessels        „  .. 
Sail 

Trammel  nets 

Trap  nets 

Outfit  (provisions,  fuel, 

xxxx 

Beam  trawls,  otter  trawls 

Dredges,    tongs,    hoes, 

rakes,  forks,  nippers, 

• 

Land,    buildings,    machinery, 
tools,    implements,    and    all 

Firearms,    guns,    rifles, 

rate  values  are  not  giver 

settled 

ledger  accounts,  materials  on 
hand,  and  sundries  not  re- 

Gill  nets,  drift  nets,  set 

Total 

Harpoons,  spears 

( If  more  than  one  blank  is  filled 
out  for  the  same  Individual  or 
company,  the  last  two  items  may 
be  reported  on  one  blank.) 

Lines— hand,  trawl,  and 
set            

2.  PROPRIETORS,    FIRM   MEMBERS,   AND   INDEPENDENT   FISHER. 

MEN;  Number 

If  any  of  the  proprietors  or  firm  members  reported  above] 

were  not  personally  engaged  in  fishing,  give  the  numberl-  Number 

not  so  engaged:  ) 

3.  SALARIED   EMPLOYEES:    Number Amount  paid  in  salaries. 


I  Mark  "  Auz. "  If  equipped  with  both  sail  and  mechanical  motive  power. 


(Salaried  ofDcers,  managers,  clerks,  etc.) 


4.  WAGE-EARNERS     (not    including  employees 
reported  above). 

Number. 

Total  amount 
paid  In  wages 
during  year. 

( 

Shoresmen  (not  including  employees  of  packing  houses) 
Estimated  cost  of  provisions  supplied  to  employees  (n 

ot  to  be  In- 

B.  QUANTITY  AND  VALUE  OF  YEAR'S  CATCH:  Report  all  fishery  products, 
including  aquatic  mammals,  reptiles,  shellfish,  sponges,  etc.,  taken  during  the 
year.  Give  the  name  and  total  quantity  and  value  of  each  species  caught  by 
each  kind  of  apparatus.  If  the  "pounds  "  is  not  known  and  can  not  be  estimated, 
give  the  "bushels"  or  "number''  and  state  what  unit  of  measure  is  used. 


PRODUCTS. 


KIND  OF  APPARATUS  USED.      (SPECQT.) 


Pounds. 


Value. 
t 


Value. 
t 


Pounds. 


Value. 
t 


Total  quantity  and  value  of  year's  catch. 


Pounds. 


Value. 
% 


Remarks: 


PACKING  HOUSES  AND  CANNERIES. 

[Establishments  engaged  in  the  canning  and  preserving  of  fish  and  in  the 
manufacture  of  fertilizer,  oils,  etc.,  from  same  must  be  reported  on  this 
schedule.  If  fishing  operations  are  conducted  under  the  same  ownership, 
a  report  must  also  be  made  on  the  schedules  provided  for  this  purpose. 
Vessel  fisheries  must  be  reported  on  Schedule  EE2 — 248  and  shore  or  boat 
fisheries  on  Schedule  EE  1—247.1 


Name  of  company  or  Individual  operating  the  establishment. 


Location: 


State County 

City  or  village Street  and  No. 

Post  office 


General  oBce  at 

(Establishments  operated  under  the  same  ownership  and  located  in  different  states 
must  be  reported  separately.) 


Wasiongton,  D.  C,  January  4, 1909. 

The  act  of  Congress  of  June  7,  1906,  authorizes  the  Director  of  the  Census,  in 
cooperation  with  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries,  to  take  a  census  of  the  fishing  industry. 

The  information  returned  on  this  schedule  should  cover  the  business  year  most 
nearly  conforming  to  the  year  ending  December  31 ,  1908.  All  questions  that  require 
a  fixed  time,  such  as  cash  on  hand  and  values  of  property,  should  be  of  the  date 
of  the  beginning  of  the  year  covered  by  the  report. 

All  answers  will  be  held  absolutely  confidential.  No  publication  will  be  made  in 
the  census  reports  disclosing  the  operations  of  individuals  or  companies  in  any 
particular,  and  the  information  will  be  used  only  for  the  statistical  purposes  for  which 
it  was  given. 

The  canvass  will  be  made  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  W.  M.  Steuart,  chief 
statistician  for  manufactures. 

S.  N.  D.  North, 
,  Director  of  the  Census. 


Extract  from  act  of  Congress,  March  3, 1899: 

Section  22.^  *  *  #  ".\nd  every  president,  treasurer,  secretary,  director, 
agent,  or  other  officer  of  every  corporation,  and  everv  establishment  of  productive 
industry,  whether  eonductea  sis  a  corporate  body,  limited  liability  company,  or 
by  private  individuals,  from  which  answers  to  any  of  the  schedules,  inquiries,  or 
statistical  interrogatories  provided  for  by  this  act  are  herein  required,  who  shall, 
if  thereto  requested  by  the  Director,  supervisor,  enumerator,  or  special  agent, 
willfully  neglect  or  refuse  to  give  true  and  complete  answers  to  any  inquiries 
authorized  by  this  act,  or  shall  willfully  give  false  information,  shall  be  guilty  of 
a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  thereof  shall  be  fined  not  exceeding  ten  thou- 
sand dollars,  to  which  may  be  added  imprisonment  for  a  period  not  exceeding 
one  year." 


302 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


CEKTinCATE. 


This  is  to  certify  that  the  information  contained  in  this  schedule  is  complete 
and  correct  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge  and  belief,  and  covers  the  period  from 

^  190    ,  to ,  190    ,  during  which  period  the  plant  was  in  active 

operation days. 


(Signature  of  special  agent.)    (Signature  of  the  person  furnishing  the  information.) 

Each  question  should  be  answered;  if  any  inquiry  is  not  applicable  and  no  answer 
can  be  made,  wTite  the  word  "None." 

1.  CAPITAL  INVESTED,  OWNED,  AND  BORROWED:  The  answer  must 
show  the  total  amount  of  capital,  both  owned  and  tjorrowed.  All  the  items 
of  fixed  and  live  capital  may  be  taken  at  the  amounts  carried  on  the  i)ooks.  If 
land  or  buildings  are  rented,  that  tact  should  be  stated  and  the  value  given. 
The  value  of  all  items  of  live  capital,  bills  receivable,  unsettled  ledger  accounts, 
materials,  products,  and  cash  on  hand,  etc.,  should  be  given  as  of  the  beginning 
of  the  business  year  reported. 


Land 

Buildings,  whtu-ves,  machinery,  tools,  and  implements 

Cash  on  hand,  bills  receivable,  unsettled  ledger  aocoimts,  raw  mate- 
rials, stock  in  process,  and  finished  products  on  hand,  and  other  sun- 


dries. 


Total. 


2.  PROPRIETORS  AND  FIRM  MEMBERS:  Number 

3.  SALARIED  EMPLOYEES:  Number .\mount  paid  in  salaries,  I. 

(Salaried  officers,  managers,  clerks,  etc.) 


4.  WAGE-EARNERS.        IN- 
CLUDING     PIECE- 
WOUKERS:  Do   not   in- 
clude   salaried    employees 
reported  above. 

Average 
number 
employed 
during 
the  year. 

Greatest 
number 
employed 

at  any 
one  time 

during 
the  year. 

Least 

number 

employed 

at  any 
one  time 

during 
the  year. 

Total 
amount 
paid  in 

wages 

during 

the  year. 

S 

To  obtain  the  average  number  employed  during  the  year,  take  the  average  number 
employed  each  month,  add.  and  divide  by  12.  Salaries  and  wages  should  in- 
clude board  or  rent  furnishe<i  as  part  compensation.  Foremen  receiving  wages  and 
performing  work  similar  to  that  of  the  men  over  whom  they  have  charge  are  to  be 
reported  as  wage-earners.  If  books  do  not  show  the  separate  amount  of  wages  paid 
to  men,  women,  and  children,  apportion  the  total  wages  for  the  year  upon  the  basis 
of  an  average  pay  roll. 


5.  FRESH  FISH  RECEIVED  AT  PLANT. 


Caught  by  employees  of  company. 
Purchased  from  other  fishermen . . 


Total. 


Quantity 
(pounds). 


6.  PRODUCTS  OF  PACKING  HOUSE  OR  CANNERY. 


PRODUCTS. 

Process  of  treats 
ment   (whether 
canned,  packed, 
smoked,  salted, 
etc.). 

Quantity 
(pounds). J 

Value  at 
plant. 

t 

Oil                      

By-products  (give  name  and  separate  quantity  and  value  of 

All  other  products  (specify  principal  tk 
Total  value  of  all  products  for  the 

1  If  the  quantity  is  not  given  in  pounds,  state  specifically  the  unit  of  measure  used. 

If  number  of  cans  is  reported,  give  size  of  cans,  for  example,  "half-pound,"  **one- 
iwund,"  or  "two-pound,"  and  if  more  than  one  size  is  used,  state  number  of  cans  of 
each  size.    If  number  of  cases  is  reported,  give  number  and  size  of  cans  in  case. 

Remarks:  


APPENDIX  C. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  SPECIAL  AGENTS. 


GENERAL. 

In  conformity  with  the  act  of  Congress  of  June  7,  1900,  the  census 
of  the  fishing  industry  is  to  be  made  by  the  Director  of  the  Census 
in  cooperation  with  the  Commissioner  of  Fisheries.  The  object  of 
this  cooperation  is  to  avoid  a  duphcate  canvass  and  insure  uniform- 
ity and  agreement  in  the  reports  of  the  two  bureaus.  To  secure 
such  a  result  and  to  minimize  the  work  of  correspondence,  correc- 
tion, and  revision,  the  utmost  pains  must  be  taken  to  obtain  correct 
information  for  all  branches  of  the  investigation. 

The  census  is  to  be  made  under  the  immediate  supervision  of  the 
chief  statistician  for  manufactures,  and  all  employees  engaged  in 
field  work  must  follow  the  instructions  of  that  official. 

Industries  and  period  covered. — The  census  must  cover,  in  addition 
to  all  varieties  of  seafood  and  fish  products,  shellfish,  whales,  seals, 
turtles,  crabs,  shrimp,  alligators,  and  sponges.  It  will  include  also 
the  pearl  mussel  fisheries  of  the  rivers  of  the  country.  All  com- 
mercial fisheries,  vessels  engaged  in  fishing,  and  vessels  engaged 
in  transporting  fish  from  the  fishing  grounds,  which  operate  from  the 
ports  of  the  continental  United  States,  Alaska,  or  Porto  Rico,  must 
be  reported.  Vessels  engaged  in  fishing  or  transporting  fish  for  a 
portion  of  the  year  and  in  other  work  for  the  remainder  of  the  12 
months  must  be  reported,  and  in  such  cases  the  report  must  cover 
the  operations  of  the  entire  year.  Vessels  engaged  in  transporting 
fish  from  port  to  port  as  regular  freight  must  not  be  reported.  The 
census  also  covers  the  operations  of  establishments  engaged  in 
canning  or  preserving  fish  or  in  the  manufacture  of  fertilizer,  oil, 
etc.,  from  sea  products. 

Dealers  in  fish  products,  either  wholesale  or  retail,  who  are  not 
also  engaged  in  catching  or  in  canning  or  preserving  fish,  should  not 
be  reported.  It  is  dilBcult  in  many  instances  to  separate  the  statis- 
tics for  the  mercantile  portion  of  the  industry,  but  the  following 
rules  should  be  applied  whenever  practicable: 

1.  When  dealeiB  in  fish  or  fish  products  are  also  engaged  in  can- 
ning or  preserving  fish  or  in  catching  fish,  no  attempt  should  be 
made  to  separate  these  statistics — the  entire  establishment  should  be 
included  in  the  census  report,  except  as  provided  in  Rule  2. 

2.  If  an  establishment  is  engaged  primarily  in  the  purchase  and 
Bale  of  fish  or  fish  products  and  incidentally  in  catching  fish  or  in 
canning  and  preserving  the  same,  the  statistics  for  the  mercantile 
portion  should  be  segregated  and  the  census  report  relate  exclusively 
to  the  fishing  or  canning  and  preserving  branch  of  the  establishment. 

3.  In  cases  where  the  purchase  and  sale  of  fish  or  fish  products 
is  combined  with  the  canning  or  preserving  of  fish  or  with  catching 
fish,  and  a  combined  report  is  made,  as  indicated  in  Rule  1,  the  re- 
port must  show  separately  the  quantity  received  and  the  quantity 
and  value  of  products  disposed  of  in  connection  with  the  wholesale 
or  retail  branch  of  the  establishment. 

4.  The  freezing  of  fish  or  the  shucking  of  oysters  when  done  by 
merchants  is  considered  as  a  portion  of  the  mercantile  business  and 
should  not  be  reported.  If  the  same  establishments  are  engaged  in 
the  catching  of  fish  or  the  canning  and  preserving  of  the  same,  the 
statistics  for  the  entire  establishment  should  be  included,  as  indi- 
cated in  Rule  1. 

For  census  purposes  the  term  "commercial  fishery"  includes  all 
fishing  operations  conducted  for  profit — i.  e.,  for  the  sale  of  the  catch, 
but  it  does  not  include  the  operations  of  individuals,  clubs,  etc., 
catching  fish  for  their  own  consumption  or  for  sport. 


The  census  reports  must  cover  the  year  ending  December  31, 
1908,  or  the  fishing  season  which  most  nearly  conforms  to  this  calen- 
dar year.  The  fishing  season  covers  different  periods  in  different 
sections  of  the  country  and  the  reports  must  be  prepared  to  meet 
local  conditions.  The  period  covered  by  each  report  must  be  given 
on  the  title-page  of  the  schedule. 

Daily  reports  and  correspondence. — The  canvass  will  be  made  by 
the  regular  employees  of  the  Census  Office  and  the  employees  of 
the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  detailed  for  this  purpose.  Each  employee 
detailed  for  field  work  must  make  a  report  on  a  form  provided  for 
this  purpose  for  every  day  on  which  he  is  actually  employed.  At 
the  close  of  each  day  the  daily  report  must  be  forwarded  by  regis- 
tered mail  in  the  return  penalty  envelope  addressed  to  the  Directoi 
of  the  Census. 

Day's  work. — The  relative  efficiency  of  each  employee  engaged 
in  field  work  will  be  determined  by  the  number  and  completeness 
of  the  schedules  secured,  and  each  daily  report  must  account  for 
the  work  of  the  day.  Inquiries  concerning  schedules  or  further  in- 
structions must  be  made  by  letter  and  not  on  the  daily  report  forms. 
Employees  must  give  sufficient  notice  of  the  date  they  will  complete 
the  district  to  which  they  are  assigned,  so  that,  if  necessary,  they 
may  be  assigned  to  other  territory  without  loss  of  time. 

Schedules. — Fishing  and  the  allied  industry  of  packing  and  can- 
ning will  be  reported  on  the  following  schedules: 

Schedule  EEl-247. — To  be  used  in  reporting  shore  or  boat  fish- 
eries. If  shore  or  boat  fisheries  are  conducted  in  connection  with 
vessel  fisheries  or  with  canneries  or  packing  houses,  reports  should 
also  be  made  on  schedules  EE2-248  and  EE3-249.  If  it  is  necessary 
to  make  the  report  on  two  or  more  schedules,  care  should  be  taken 
that  no  amounts  are  duplicated.  The  vast  majority  of  the  reports 
will  be  prepared  on  schedules  EEl-247  and  EE2-248. 

Schedule  EE2-248. — To  be  used  in  reporting  fisheries  conducted 
with  vessels  which  have  been  documented.  As  indicated  by  the 
schedule,  it  was  designed  for  the  purpose  of  securing  a  separate  re- 
port for  each  vessel.  If  several  vessels  are  operated  under  the  same 
ownership  and  it  is  impracticable  to  obtain  a  separate  report  for 
each,  a  consolidated  report  may  be  made  on  one  blank  covering  the 
catch  of  all  the  craft,  provided  they  operate  from  the  same  fishing 
port.  In  preparing  consolidated  reports  of  the  catch  of  two  or  more 
vessels,  a  separate  schedule  must  be  prepared  for  each  vessel  and 
answers  made  to  the  first  four  inquiries.  The  entire  catch  may  then 
be  reported  under  inquiry  5  of  any  one  of  the  schedules  for  fishing 
vessels.  Inquiry  5  of  the  remaining  fishing  vessels  should  be 
answered  by  referring  to  the  schedule  on  which  the  catch  is  reported. 

Schedule  EE3-249. — To  be  used  in  reporting  packing  houses, 
canneries,  and  fish  curing  establishments.  Reports  must  not  be 
made  for  wholesale  or  retail  dealers  in  fish  unless  such  dealers  are 
also  engaged  in  fishing.  The  packing  of  fresh  fish  in  ice,  freezing 
fish,  shucking  oysters,  or  picking  crab  meat  must  not  be  reported 
when  done  by  dealers,  but  when  these  industries  are  carried  on  by 
fishermen,  statistics  for  them  must  be  included  in  the  reports,  as 
indicated  above. 

In  cases  where  oyster  fishermen  shuck  the  oysters  before  selling 
them,  the  agent  must  report  separately  under  "Remarks"  the 
number  and  wages  of  the  employees  engaged  exclusively  in  shuck- 
ing. They  must  also  report,  by  estimate,  if  necessary,  both  the 
value  of  the  oysters  in  the  shell  and  their  value  after  being  shucked. 

(303) 


304 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


The  three  schedules  are  prepared  for  the  purpose  of  collecting 
statistics  which  will  enable  the  office  to  make  a  separate  presenta- 
tion of  data  for  shore  fisheries,  for  vessel  fisheries,  and  canning  or 
packing  establishments,  respectively,  the  totals  for  each  branch  of 
the  industry  to  be  presented  by  states.  Therefore  it  is  important 
that  separate  reports  be  prepared;  if,  however,  two  or  more  branches 
are  conducted  under  the  same  ownership  and  it  is  impossible  to 
secure  separate  reports,  a  consolidated  report  may  be  prepared,  but 
in  such  cases  a  full  description  of  the  conditions  must  be  given 
under  "Remarks"  on  the  last  page  of  the  schedule  and  percentages 
furnished  which  will  enable  the  office  to  make  the  separation  if 
necessary.  Great  care  must  be  taken  to  avoid  duplication  of  sta- 
tistics in  the  preparation  of  the  separate  reports. 

Districts  and  lists. — The  entire  country  has  been  divided  into 
districts  and  one  or  more  special  agents  will  be  assigned  to  each  dis- 
trict. Before  starting  the  canvass  each  agent  must  know  the  extent 
of  his  district,  and  must  not  visit  points  outside  his  district  without 
specific  directions  to  do  so.  Each  agent  will  be  held  accountable  /or 
a  thorough  and  rapid  canvass  of  the  district  to  which  he  has  been  assigned. 
To  assist  in  locating  the  fisheries,  vessels,  and  establishments  to  be 
canvassed,  each  agent  will  be  furnished  with — 

1.  List  of  localities  where  fishing  is  conducted. 

2.  List  of  vessels. 

3.  Index  card  for  each  vessel. 

4.  List  of  canneries,  etc. 

5.  Index  card  for  each  cannery. 

The  number  at  the  top  of  the  index  card  must  be  written  in  the 
upper  right-hand  corner  of  the  schedule  and  the  card  must  accom- 
pany the  schedule  when  it  is  sent  to  the  office.  "When  an  establish- 
ment is  to  be  omitted  or  a  cross  reference  is  to  be  made,  the  card 
with  an  explanatory  note  on  it  should  be  sent  to  the  office  with  the 
daily  report.  The  index  numbers  of  all  cards  accompanying  the 
daily  report  should  be  given  in  the  left-hand  margin  of  the  daily 
report.  The  list  of  fishing  vessels  includes  the  name  and  address 
of  the  owner  in  each  case,  and  the  agent  will  find  that  these  addresses 
include  many  localities  not  included  in  the  list  of  localities.  It  is 
expected  that  the  agent  will  be  able  to  secure  the  reports  for  most 
of  the  vessels  at  the  fishing  grounds  or  fishing  ports,  and  will  there- 
fore confine  himself  to  his  list  of  localities  until  he  has  secured  as 
many  of  the  reports  as  possible,  after  which  the  owners  of  the  remain- 
ing vessels  should  be  visited.  This  is  a  general  rule  and  may  be 
waived  by  the  agent  if  he  finds  he  can  conduct  the  canvass  more 
economically  and  advantageously  otherwise.  He  should,  of  course, 
secure  reports  from  all  fishermen  in  or  surrounding  a  given  locality, 
so  as  to  avoid  revisiting  the  same  neighborhood.  The  lists  are  not 
complete  and  must  not  he  accepted  as  representing  all  of  the  localities 
nor  all  of  the  interests  to  be  enumerated.  As  the  lists  were  obtained 
from  records  that  are  several  years  old,  the  accuracy  of  the  canvass 
will  depend  to  a  very  large  degree  on  the  diligence  of  the  agents, 
and  they  should  constantly  be  on  the  alert  to  discover  other  points 
at  which  fishing  is  conducted  and  other  establishments  engaged  in 
the  fishing  industry.  Every  name  on  the  agent's  list,  however, 
must  be  accounted  for;  if  a  vessel  or  establishment  has  changed 
ownership  or  gone  out  of  existence,  the  name  and  a  memorandum 
of  the  facts  must  be  given  on  the  agent's  daily  report. 

Each  agent  will  be  furnished  with  a  statement  of  the  order  in 
which  he  will  be  expected  to  visit  the  different  points  in  his  district. 
This  order  should  be  followed  unless  the  agent  finds  that  railroad 
connections  and  local  conditions  make  a  change  advisable.  In 
such  a  case  the  character  and  necessity  of  the  change  must  be  stated 
on  the  agent's  daily  report. 

Method  of  canvassing. — It  is  recognized  that  the  fishing  industry 
differs  from  all  other  industries  covered  by  the  census,  in  that  it  is 
not  conducted  during  the  entire  year,  and  that  there  are  many 
small  unimportant  operators.  While  it  is  essential  that  a  thorough 
canvass  be  made  of  the  industry,  the  special  agent  must  exercise 
discretion  in  securing  reports  of  the  operations  of  the  small  fisher- 
men and  those  who  are  absent  at  the  time  of  the  visit. 

On  entering  a  locality  where  shore  fishing  is  conducted,  the  agent 
should  first  obtain  from  the  principal  fishermen  and  fish  dealers  a 


complete  list  of  the  fishermen  in  that  vicinity.  A  rapid  canvass 
should  then  be  made  of,  and  reports  obtained  from,  the  fishermen 
in  the  immediate  vicinity.  As  these  reports  are  obtained,  inquiries 
should  be  made  regarding  fishermen  who  are  absent  or  who  are  not 
easUy  accessible,  and  partial  reports  prepared  for  them.  These 
partial  reports  should  be  corrected  if  better  information  is  afterwards 
obtained  from  dealers  or  other  fishermen.  When  reports  for  prac- 
tically all  of  the  fishermen  have  been  prepared,  the  agent,  instead 
of  making  visits  to  unimportant  points  in  the  neighborhood  or  wait- 
ing for  other  fishermen  to  return,  should  complete  the  canvass  of  the 
locality  by  the  use  of  the  estimates  he  has  obtained.  The  operations 
of  a  group  of  fishermen  may  be  included  in  one  schedule  if  an  accu- 
rate estimate  of  the  entire  catch  can  be  obtained.  The  estimated 
reports  should,  if  possible,  be  the  result  of  interviews  with  more 
than  one  person,  so  as  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  exaggerated  state- 
ments, and  should  contain  under  "Remarks"  a  statement  of  the 
conditions  under  which  they  were  obtained. 

In  cases  where  reports  are  prepared  in  the  manner  suggested 
in  the  preceding  paragraph  the  agent  will  probably  find  it  neces- 
sary to  retain  all  or  some  of  the  schedules  for  a  locality  until  he 
leaves  the  vicinity,  so  that  if  better  information  shall  be  obtained 
after  the  report  has  been  wholly  or  partially  prepared  he  can  sub- 
stitute it,  and  so  that  he  can  avoid  duplication  in  the  reports.  If 
the  schedules  are  thus  retained  to  be  sent  in  later,  a  memorandum 
should  be  made  on  each  schedule  showing  the  date  of  the  daily 
report  on  which  it  was  reported. 

In  visiting  a  locality  the  agent  should  not  ask  "Is  there  any 
commercial  fishing  here?"  but  he  should  ask  "  Was  there  any  fishing 
here  during  1908?"  There  are  localities  where  fishing  is  carried 
on  at  certain  seasons  only,  and  at  the  time  the  agent  calls  there 
may  be  no  one  fishing.  Cases  will  be  found  where  shore  fishermen 
live  in  one  state  and  fish  in  the  waters  of  another  state.  For 
example,  shore  fishermen  living  in  New  Jersey  may  go  into  Vir- 
ginia waters  at  a  certain  season  to  fish.  In  such  cases  the  fishing 
must  be  reported  by  both  the  agent  in  Virginia  and  the  agent  in 
New  Jersey.  WTien  the  report  covers  operations  in  different  states, 
full  explanation  must  be  made  under  "Remarks"  on  the  last 
page  of  the  schedule.  This  explanation  must  give  the  names  or 
description  of  the  different  localities  in  which  the  fishing  covered 
by  the  schedule  was  carried  on  and  the  quantity  of  the  catch  in 
each  locality. 

In  preparing  reports  for  a  number  of  fishermen  operating  out 
of  the  same  port,  care  must  be  taken  to  avoid  duplication.  Each 
schedule  must  be  complete  and  distinct,  so  that  a  imiform  tabula- 
tion can  be  made  in  the  office. 

It  is  especially  difficult  to  obtain  statistics  for  fishing  vessels 
that  are  absent  from  the  home  ports  for  considerable  peri(xl8. 
For  this  reason  it  will  generally  be  advisable  to  obtain  reports  for 
the  fishing  vessels  of  a  locality  first,  and  while  the  shore  fisheries 
and  establishments  are  being  enumerated  other  vessels  may  come 
in.  There  are  comparatively  few  ports  from  which  such  vessels 
operate,  and  the  special  agents  must  resort  to  every  possible  means 
to  obtain  information  concerning  them. 

If  an  agent  finds  that  the  canvass  of  a  district  to  which  he  has 
been  assigned  can  not  be  finished  because  vessels  operating  from 
points  in  it  are  out  at  the  fishing  grounds,  he  should  not  remain 
indefinitely  in  the  district,  but  must  advise  the  office  of  the 
probable  number  and  size  of  the  vessels  from  which  he  has  not 
been  able  to  obtain  reports,  and  await  instructions.  However,  if 
he  is  satisfied  from  inquiry  that  the  vessels  are  comparatively 
unimportant,  he  should  obtain  all  available  information  concerning 
them,  prepare  for  each  a  partial  report  containing  the  name  and 
address  of  the  owner,  the  name,  net  tonnage,  and  value  of  the  vessel, 
and  general  information  concerning  the  character  and  extent  of 
the  catch,  and  forward  same  to  the  office  with  proper  letter  of 
explanation.  The  necessity  of  remaining  in  a  locality  awaiting 
the  return  of  vessels  is  left  largely  to  the  discretion  of  the  agent. 

Remote  localities.— While  the  entire  country  bordering  on  waters 
from  which  commercial  fishing  operations  can  be  carried  on  must 
be  covered,  agents  may  find  that  some  fishing  operations  are  carried 


APPENDIX. 


806 


on  in  remote  localities  not  accessible  by  railroad  or  boat,  and  that 
no  exact  information  concerning  them  can  be  obtained  without  a 
long,  expensive  trip  by  the  use  of  livery.  If  in  such  cases  the 
agent  can  secure  satisfactory  information  that  the  year's  catch  was 
comparatively  unimportant,  he  should  not  incur  the  expense  of 
the  trip,  but  should  obtain  the  best  information  possible  from 
persons  who  are  familiar  witli  the  operations  of  the  fishermen, 
prepare  a  report,  and  give  explanation  under  "Remarks." 

In  cases  where  the  fisherman  is  absent  when  the  agent  calls  and 
it  is  evident  from  a  personal  inspection  that  his  operations  for  the 
year  were  unimportant,  the  information  should  be  obtained  from 
some  one  familiar  with  the  value  of  the  boats,  equipment,  and  the 
year's  catch. 

General  report. — Each  agent  will  be  required  to  furnish  a  general 
statement  of  conditions  and  recent  developments  in  the  fishing 
industry  in  the  district  to  which  he  is  assigned.  Detailed  answers 
to  the  following  inquiries  will  develop  these  conditions,  and  the 
agent  must  submit  the  questions  to  the  principal  fishermen  of  each 
locality  and  make  such  memoranda  as  will  enable  him  to  make  a 
full  report  when  the  canvass  of  the  district  is  finished. 

1.  lias  the  past  season  been  an  average  one,  an  unusually  good 
one,  or  an  unusually  poor  one? 

2.  Has  there  been  any  general  change  in  the  apparatus  used  for 
catching  fish  in  the  last  two  or  three  years?    If  so,  describe  briefly. 

3.  What  are  the  principal  nationalities  of  the  fishermen? 

4.  Has  there  been  any  considerable  change  in  the  nationality 
»f  the  fishermen  in  the  last  few  years?     If  so,  describe  briefly. 

5.  Wliat  kinds  of  fish,  if  any,  are  being  caught  in  smaller  quan- 
tities in  the  last  few  years? 

6.  What  kinds  of  fish,  if  any,  are  being  caught  in  greater  quantities 
in  the  last  few  years? 

7.  What  kinds  of  fish,  if  any,  have  been  caught  for  the  first  time 
in  the  neighborhood  in  the  last  year  or  two? 

8.  What  conditions,  if  any,  exist  that  make  the  fishing  unusually 
difficult  or  unprofitable? 

9.  Are  these  conditions  increasing  or  decreasing? 

10.  Has  any  disease  affected  the  fish  during  the  past  year?  If  bo, 
describe  briefly  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  di.sease  and  the  kind 
or  kinds  of  fish  affected. 

11.  Describe  briefly  the  nature  and  extent  of  loss  of  life  and 
property  during  the  year. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  inquiries,  the  agent  is  at  liberty  and 
will  be  expected  to  ask  such  other  questions  as  will  tend  to  elicit 
valuable  information  as  to  the  conditions  of  the  industry  in  the 
section  of  the  country  in  which  he  is  working. 

Schedule  pok  Vessel  Fisheries  EE2-248. 

Title-page. — The  name  and  post-office  address  is  not  necessarily 
that  of  the  owner  of  the  vessel.  It  may  be  the  name  and  address  of 
the  person  or  company  operating  the  fishery,  as  in  some  cases  the 
Tessels  are  chartered  and  the  owner  is  not  connected  with  fisheries. 

Fishing  port.— The  term  "fishing  port"  is  generally  understood 
by  vessel  fishermen,  and  means  the  port  at  which  the  catch  is  ordi- 
narily landed.  As  a  rule,  the  homes  of  the  fishermen  are  at  the 
fishing  port. 

Hailing  port.— The  hailing  port  of  a  vessel  is  the  port  at  which  it 
is  documented  in  the  customhouse  and  from  which  its  official  papers 
issue. 

Name  of  vessel. — The  full  name  of  the  vessel  should  be  given. 
For  example,  if  the  name  of  the  vessel  is  Charles  Macalester  it 
should  be  so  reported,  and  not  as  the  Macalester.  If  the  name  of 
the  vessel  has  been  changed  during  1908,  that  fact  should  be  noted 
tinder  "Remarks." 

Net  tonnage. — The  net  tonnage  is  given  in  the  official  papers  of  a 
vessel  and  is  also  cut  on  the  vessel  itself.  The  owner  or  captain 
will  generally  know  the  net  tonnage. 

Certificate.— Tiie  certificate  should  show  the  time  covered  by  the 

report.     If  the  vessel  was  sold  or  destroyed  during  the  year,  the  fact 

should  be  noted  under  "Remarks,"     A  space  is  provided  for  the 

signature  of  the  person  furnishing  the  information  for  the  report 

76786°— 11 20 


and  the  schedule  should  ordinarily  be  signed;  but  if  for  any  reason 
it  is  impracticable  to  obtain  a  signature,  it  may  be  omitted.  In 
such  cases  the  agent  should  supply  the  name  of  the  person  who  fur- 
nished the  information.  If  the  post-office  address  of  the  person 
furnishing  the  information  is  different  from  that  given  on  the  face 
of  the  schedule,  it  should  be  reported. 

Capital  invested. — The  answer  to  this  inquiry  should  cover  the 
entire  investment.  If  vessels  are  chartered  or  buildings  or  appa- 
ratus are  rented,  they  should  nevertheless  be  reported.  If  such 
vessels  or  apparatus  are  included  in  another  fisherman's  report,  an 
explanation  should  be  made  under  "Remarks,"  so  that  the  dupli- 
cation may  be  eliminated.  The  amount  reported  should  be  the 
value  of  vessels,  buildings,  and  apparatus  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year  covered  by  the  report.  All  vessels  'equipped  with  mechanical 
propelling  power  are  considered  as  "steam"  or  "motor."  A  vessel 
having  both  sails  and  steam  power  would  be  classed  as  "steam." 

The  term  "transporting  vessels"  includes  all  vessels  connected 
with  the  fishery,  but  not  actually  engaged  in  fishing.  For  example, 
it  includes  towboats  engaged  in  hauling  vessels  carrying  fish,  ves- 
sels used  as  cold-storage  barges  or  to  live  on,  watch  boats,  and  lay 
boats.  If  a  transporting  vessel  is  not  connected  with  vessel  fisheries, 
that  fact  should  be  stated.  It  might  be  connected  with  a  cannery 
or  packing  house  or  even  with  a  shore  fishery.  Vessels  eng^ed  in 
both  fishing  and  transporting  should  be  reported  as  fishing  vessels, 
but  the  fact  that  they  were  also  engaged  in  transporting  should  be 
noted  under  "Remarks."  The  value  of  outfit  is,  strictly  speaking, 
not  an  item  of  capital  but  an  item  of  expense.  The  answer  to  this 
inquiry,  therefore,  should  show  the  total  outlay  for  outfit  during  the 
year.  Many  vessels  will,  of  course,  be  fitted  with  a  new  supply  of 
provisions,  fuel,  bait,  etc.,  several  times  a  year.  Care  should  be 
taken  that  the  answer  does  not  show  the  value  of  only  one  complete 
outfit  for  the  vessel.  It  is  believed  that  the  list  of  apparatus  given 
on  the  schedule  will  cover  practically  all  the  kinds  in  general  use. 
Nevertheless,  blank  lines  have  been  added,  and  if  the  agent  finds 
any  apparatus  in  use  that  is  not  included  in  the  list,  he  should  report 
it  on  one  of  these  lines  and  should,  in  addition,  give  a  general 
description  of  the  apparatus  under  "Remarks,"  with  a  diagram,  if 
necessary.  If  shore  and  vessel  fisheries  are  carried  on  under  the 
same  ownership,  it  will  be  necessary  to  fill  out  more  than  one  blank, 
but  it  is  not  necessary  to  divide  the  value  of  shore  and  accessory 
property  and  cash,  etc.  The  value  of  these  items  may  be  reported 
on  any  one  schedule  and  reference  to  that  schedule  made  on  the 
other  schedules. 

In  some  states  private  or  cultivated  oyster  beds  are  Isased  for  a 
term  of  years  or  actually  owned  by  the  operators.  This,  however, 
is  not  the  universal  practice,  and  as  it  will  be  impossible  to  obtain 
the  total  value  of  all  oyster  beds,  this  item  must  not  be  included  in 
the  values  reported  for  answer  to  inquiry  1. 

Proprietors,  firm  members,  and  independent  fishermen. — Stock- 
holders of  corporations  should  not  be  reported  unless  they  are  also 
employees  of  the  company.  A  person  fishing  on  shares,  delivering 
a  part  of  the  catch  to  another  person  and  selling  the  remainder, 
should  not  be  considered  as  an  independent  fisherman;  in  this  case 
the  person  to  whom  a  part  of  the  catch  was  delivered  should  be  con- 
sidered the  proprietor.  It  is  desired  to  show  in  the  report  the  total 
number  of  persons  engaged  in  fishing.  For  this  reason  it  is  neces- 
sary to  indicate  whether  the  proprietor  was  actually  engaged  in 
fishing.  In  the  great  majority  of  cases  the  proprietor  will  be  found 
to  be  so  engaged,  but  in  cases  where  he  is  not,  this  fact  should  be 
indicated  in  the  space  provided.  If  the  ownership  of  the  vessel  is 
in  shares,  a  number  of  which  are  held  by  parties  who  take  no  part 
in  its  management,  these  parties  should  be  reported  as  "share- 
holders." Persons  reported  in  inquiries  2,  3,  and  4  should  not  be 
duplicated  when  more  than  one  schedule  is  secured  for  operations 
carried  on  under  the  same  ownership. 

Salaried  employees. — There  will  probably  be  comparatively  few 
cases  where  it  will  be  necessary  to  answer  this  inquiry.  It  applies 
only  to  large  companies  having  a  managing  office  in  which  records 
of  the  fishing  are  kept  by  salaried  employees.  Persons  reported  in 
this  inquiry  should  not  be  reported  on  another  schedule. 


306 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Vessel  crew. — The  regular  crew,  including  the  fishermen  on  the 
vessel,  should  be  reported  as  "vessel  crew."  If  the  captain  or  any 
other  member  of  the  crew  has  been  reported  as  a  proprietor,  he 
should  not  be  reported  here.  Where  fishermen  are  working  on 
shares,  it  will  be  necessary  to  estimate  the  annual  wages.  Where 
board  is  provided  for  fishermen  as  part  compensation,  the  value  of 
provisions  thus  used  should  not  be  included  in  wages,  but  should 
be  reported  separately  as  provided  for  in  the  schedule. 

Quantity  and  value  of  catch. — The  total  catch  should  be  reported. 
The  number  of  pounds  should  be  obtained  if  possible,  but  in  cases 
where  it  is  impossible  to  estimate  the  weight  the  quantity  should 
be  reported  by  some  other  unit  of  measurement,  the  unit  used  being 
specified.  If  the  quantity  is  reported  in  barrels,  casks,  boxes,  bas 
kets,  or  similar  measure,  the  size  of  the  unit  should  be  stated.  It 
will  probably  be  necessary  in  most  cases  to  report  the  quantity  of 
oysters,  clams,  etc.,  in  bushels.  When  oysters  are  reported,  a  state- 
ment should  be  made  showing  whether  they  were  taken  from  public 
or  from  private  beds.  The  quantities  and  values  of  market  and  seed 
oysters  must  be  reported  separately. 

The  prices  of  fish  and  fish  products  vary  greatly,  according  to  the 
Beason  or  the  state  of  the  market.  Agents  must  familiarize  them- 
selves with  the  prices  prevailing  in  the  section  of  the  country  in 
which  they  are  employed,  and  in  every  instance  check  the  quanti- 
ties and  values  reported  so  as  to  verify  the  average  price  and  see 
that  it  is  in  harmony  with  actual  conditions.  In  cases  where  fishing 
operations  are  conducted  in  connection  with  a  packing  house  or 
cannery,  the  two  operations  being  carried  on  by  two  different  sets 
of  employees,  the  entire  catch  of  fresh  fish  should  be  reported  on 
the  schedule  for  "Vessel  fisheries"  or  "Shore  and  boat  fisheries," 
as  the  case  may  be,  and  the  products  of  the  packing  house  or 
cannery  should  be  reported  on  the  schedule  provided  for  the  pur- 
pose. The  two  schedules  should  be  attached  to  each  other  when 
sent  to  the  office. 

In  cases  where  fishermen  salt  or  smoke  a  part  of  their  catch,  the 
same  employees  being  engaged  in  both  the  fishing  and  the  salting 
or  smoking,  the  entire  report  should  be  made  on  a  schedule  for 
"Shore  and  boat  fisheries  "  or  for  ' '  Vessel  fisheries, ' '  as  the  case  may 
be.  In  such  caseaeach  kind  of  fish  caught  by  each  kind  of  apparatus 
should  be  reported  in  the  condition  it  was  when  it  left  the  fisher- 
men's hands — for  example,  "fresh cod,"  "salted  cod,"  or  "smoked 
herring."  If  the  fishermen  are  employed  in  connection  with  a 
cannery,  the  fish  will  leave  their  hands  fresh,  and  should  be  reported 
in  this  way .  If  they  salt  or  smoke  a  part  or  all  of  their  catch ,  the  fish 
BO  treated  should  be  reported  as  they  leave  their  hands;  that  is  to 
say,  as  salted  or  smoked.  In  reporting  fresh  fish  the  weight  before 
being  cleaned,  commonly  known  as  "round  weight,"  should  be 
given. 

When  it  is  necessary  for  the  fisherman  to  estimate  the  quantity 
and  value  of  the  catch,  the  total  quantity  and  the  total  value  should 
be  entered  and  the  attention  of  the  informant  called  to  such  entries 
before  the  schedule  is  signed. 

In  reporting  a  transporting  vessel,  it  is  of  course  unnecessary  to 
answer  the  question  relating  to  the  catch. 

It  is  the  intention  of  the  office  to  publish  separately  the  quanti- 
ties and  values  of  each  species  of  fish  caught  during  1908.  It  is 
possible  that  some  diflSculty  will  be  encountered  in  obtaining  com- 
plete returns  in  this  detail,  and  for  this  reason  the  attention  of  the 
agents  is  particularly  called  to  this  phase  of  the  inquiry.  It  will  be 
the  natural  inclination  of  the  fishermen,  in  giving  an  estimated 
report,  to  mention  only  the  principal  kinds  of  fish  caught,  but  the 
agents  must  use  every  effort  to  obtain  a  complete  list  of  the  species 
taken  during  the  year,  together  with  their  quantities  and  values. 

It  is  frequently  found  that,  while  fishing  operations  may  be  car- 
ried on  particularly  for  the  capture  of  a  certain  species  of  fish,  still 
other  varieties  will  almost  invariably  be  taken.  These  other  varie-* 
ties  may  not  appear  to  the  fishermen  to  be  of  much  importance,  but 
it  is  believed  that  the  quantities  thus  caught  will  in  the  aggregate 
be  considerable. 

The  last  report  of  the  Bureau  of  Fisheries  for  the  state  in  which 
the  agent  is  working  will  show,  by  counties,  the  quantities  and 
values  of  each  ipecies  of  fish  caught  during  the  year  covered  by  the 


report,  and  it  will  therefore  be  well  for  the  agent  to  familiarize  him- 
self with  this  list. 

Schedule  for  Shore  and  Boat  Fisheries  EEl-247. 

If  several  fishermen  work  together  in  a  sort  of  partnership  arrange- 
ment, one  report  should  be  made  for  them.  When  a  fisherman 
works  on  shares — that  is,  keeps  a  part  of  his  catch  and  delivers  the 
other  part  to  his  employer — he  should  not  be  considered  as  an  inde- 
pendent fisherman. 

The  instructions  for  filMng  the  schedule  for  "Vessel  fisheries  "  will 
cover  most  of  the  inquiries  on  the  schedule  for  "Shore  and  boat  fish- 
eries." Special  attention  is,  however,  called  to  the  following 
points: 

Locations. — The  location  reported  should  be  the  point  on  shore 
from  which  the  fishing  operations  are  conducted.  In  many  cases  a 
fishing  camp  is  established  as  a  base  of  operations. 

Waters  ivhere  fishing  is  conducted. — The  answer  to  this  question 
should  give  the  name  of  the  body  of  water  where  the  fishing  is  con- 
ducted, as,  for  example,  the  name  of  the  river,  inlet,  bay,  or  sound. 

Wage-earners. — Only  employees  actually  connected  with  the 
fishing  should  be  reported  as  wage-earners.  Shoresmen  should 
include  all  shore  employees  directly  connected  with  the  catching 
of  fish;  for  example,  it  would  include  persons  engaged  in  mending 
nets. 

SCHEDITLE   rOR   PACKING   HOU.SES   AND   CANNERIES   EE3-249. 

This  schedule  is  intended  to  cover  all  packing,  preserving,  and 
curing  of  fish.  The  operations  are  not  necessarily  conducted  in 
buildings,  but  fish  may  be  salted  or  otherwise  preserved  on  the 
beach  or  even  on  the  deck  of  the  fishing  vessel.  If  the  packing  or 
curing  is  done  by  the  fishermen,  the  report  should  be  made  as  indi- 
cated under  "Quantity  and  value  of  catch,"  above. 

If  an  individual  or  company  operates  plants  in  different  states,  a 
separate  report  should  be  made  for  the  plants  in  each  state,  as  it  is 
desired  to  present  statistics  separately  for  the  several  states. 

Wage-earners. — To  obtain  the  average  number  of  wage-earners 
employed  during  the  year,  the  average  number  employed  during 
the  various  months  should  be  added  and  the  total  divided  by  12. 
The  word  "none"  should  not  be  used  in  answer  to  the  inquiry  as  to 
the  least  number  employed  at  any  one  time  in  the  case  of  an  estab- 
lishment that  had  no  employees  for  a  part  of  the  year,  but  the  small- 
est number  employed  at  any  one  time  should  be  given. 

Fresh  fi^h  received  at  plant. — This  should  include  all  fish  received 
at  the  plant.  Spoiled  fish  received  by  a  fertilizer  plant  should  be 
reported.  If  imported  fish  were  received  at  a  planfc,  that  fact  should 
be  stated.  If  partially  treated  fish  are  received  at  the  plant  and  the 
process  completed,  the  quantity  of  partially  treated  fish  received 
at  the  plant  should  be  reported  separately  from  the  quantity  of 
fresh  fish  received. 

Products. — Under  this  head  should  be  reported  the  kind,  quantity, 
and  value  of  fish  or  sea  products,  and  the  nature  of  the  process  of 
treatment  (canned,  packed,  smoked,  salted,  made  into  fertilizer, 
etc.).  If  the  quantity  can  not  be  reported  in  pounds,  it  should  be 
reported  in  other  terms,  and  the  unit  of  measurement  should  be 
stated.  If  barrels  or  casks  are  reported,  their  size  should  be  stated. 
If  canned  goods  are  reported  in  number  of  cans,  the  number  of  cans 
of  each  ."size  should  be  stated;  if  number  of  cases  are  reported,  the 
size  of  the  cans  and  the  number  of  cans  to  each  case  should  be  given. 
If  canned  oysters  are  reported  in  pounds,  the  agent  must  be  careful 
that  the  weight  given  represents  the  actual  contents  of  the  cans. 
The  contents  of  a  1-pound  can  of  oysters  may  weigh  10  ounces. 
Therefore  in  this  case  sixteen  1-pound  cans  of  oysters  should  be 
reported  as  10  pounds.  If  by-products  are  reported,  the  various 
kinds  should  be  named  or  described,  and  the  quantities  and  values 
of  the  principal  by-products  should  be  reported  separately. 

The  difference  between  the  weight  of  the  green  fish  and  the 
finished  product  of  the  cannery  depends  largely  upon  the  process 
employed  and  the  character  of  the  finished  product.  This  variation, 
however,  must  be  carefully  noted  at  the  time  of  preparing  the 
reports,  and  when  it  is  excessive  or  apparently  insufficient,  a  proper 
memorandum  of  explanation  should  be  given  under  "Remarks"  on 
the  last  page  of  the  schedule. 


APPENDIX. 


307 


LIST  AND  DESCRIPTION  OF  KINDS  OF  FISH. 


Abalone  (ITaliolu). — A  mollusk  found  on  the  coast  of  California, 
especially  abundant  in  the  neighborhood  of  San  Diego.  It  is  also 
called  "sea-ear,"  "ormer-shell,"  "ear-shell,"  etc.  Different 
species  are  known  as  red  abalone,  black  abalone,  and  rough  abalone. 
The  shells  are  largely  sold  for  commercial  purposes,  many  being 
shipped  to  Europe.  The  flesh  is  salted  and  dried  and  used  for  food 
by  the  Chinese.  • 

Albacore. — See  Horse  mackerel. 

Ale  WIFE  (Pomolobus  pseudoharengus  and  P.  xstivalis). — These 
two  species  are  generally  known  indiscriminately  as  alewives,  and 
are  found  in  waters  adjacent  to  the  sea.  P.  pseudoharengus  is  never 
found  south  of  the  Neuse  River,  in  North  Carolina.  It  is  known 
along  the  Potomac  as  "branch  herring;"  on  the  Albemarle  as  the 
"big-eyed  herring"  and  the  "wall-eyed  herring;"  in  New  England 
as  "alewife,"  and  on  the  Connecticut  as  "ellwife"  and  "ellwhop." 
It  appears  in  the  rivers  three  or  four  weeks  earlier  than  the  "glut 
herring"  or  the  "shad."  P.  xstivalia  is  found  from  the  Carolinas  to 
the  Gulf  of  Maine.  It  is  known  in  the  Chesapeake  and  Albemarle 
as  "glut  herring;"  in  the  Ogeechee  as  "English  herring;"  in  the 
St.  Johns  as  "herring,"  and  in  Massachusetts  and  during  the  later 
runs  in  the  Rappahannock  as  the  "blueback;"  also  known  as 
"black-belly,"  "saw-belly,"  and  "kyack."  It  is  less  abundant 
than  P.  pseudoharengus,  and  much  less  valuable  as  a  food  fish. 
Both  species  average  about  a  half  pound  in  weight  and  8  to  10 
inches  in  length.  They  are  caught  in  nets,  seines,  weirs,  etc.,  and 
are  of  very  great  importance  as  food  fish.  They  are  also  used  for 
bait.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  menhaden  {Brevoortia 
tyrannus)  in  Delaware,  Maryland,  and  Virginia. 

Alfionb  {Rhacochilus  toxoUs). — A  food  fish  found  on  the  Cali- 
fornia coast  from  Cape  Mendocino  to  San  Pedro.  It  is  also  called 
"perch"  and  "sprat."  It  reaches  a  length  of  18  inches  and  a 
weight  of  5  pounds.     It  is  the  most  important  of  the  surf-fishes. 

Alligator  (Alligator  mississippiensis) . — The  alligator  is  found  in 
the  streams  and  swamps  of  the  Southern  states,  and  more  or  less 
numerously  along  the  coast  from  South  Carolina  to  Texas.  It  is  also 
called  ' '  cayman. ' '  Alligators  attain  a  length  of  12  feet,  and  average 
about  10  feet.  They  are  captured  for  their  hides,  oil,  ivory,  flesh, 
skeletons,  and  eggs. 

Amber-fish  (Seriola). — A  food  fish  found  from  Cape  Cod  to  Cape 
Hatteras.  It  is  known  as  "jack-fish"  on  the  Carolina  coast,  and 
"amber-fish,"  "shark's  pOot,"  and  "rudder-fish"  elsewhere.  The 
average  length  is  24  inches;  average  weight,  7  pounds.  Another 
species  found  on  the  California  coast  is  known  as  "  yellow-tail." 

Anchovy  (Engraulididse). — These  are  small  fishes  of  the  genus 
Anchovia  common  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Texas;  also 
on  the  coast  of  southern  California,  and  the  genus  Engraulis  common 
from  Alaska  to  Lower  California.  The  silver  anchovy  (Anchovia 
browni)  is  the  common  Atlantic  species.  It  is  also  known  as  "sar- 
dine" and  "spearing,"  and  with  other  anchovies  enters  into  the 
composition  of  "white  bait."  The  California  anchovy  (Engraulis 
mordax)  is  the  largest  and  most  valuable  food  species.  It  is  mostly 
preserved  in  oil  or  made  into  fish  paste.  The  name  is  also  applied 
to  preparations  of  other  fish,  especially  young  herring  and  sprat. 

Angel-fish. — 1.  A  name  applied  to  the  moonfish,'or  spadefish 
(Chcetodipterus  faber),  from  Florida  to  Charleston.  2.  Small,  beau- 
tifully tinted  fish  (Holacanlhus),  found  in  tropical  waters,  especially 
among  coral  reefs.  They  are  sold  for  exhibition  in  aquaria  and 
also  for  'ood. 

Atka-fish  (Pleurogrammus  monopterygiu^). — A  fine  food  fish 
found  among  the  Aleutian  Islands.  The  average  weight  is  about  2 
pounds  and  average  length  about  16  inches.  Also  known  as  "Atka 
mackerel." 

'Barracuda  (Sphyroena  argentea). — An  excellent  food  fish  caught 
on  the  California  coast  from  San  Francisco  southward.  It  reaches  a 
length  of  about  5  feet  and  a  weight  of  about  12  pounds.  It  is  caught 
with  hand  liues  and  by  trolling,  and  when  dried  and  salted  makes 


excellent  food.  The  great  barracuda  (S.  barracuda),  also  known  as 
"picuda"  or  "becuna,"  is  found  on  our  coast  from  Pensacola  to 
Charleston  and  is  the  largest  of  the  genus,  reaching  a  length  of  6  feet. 
Smaller  species  (S.  boreaiis  and  S.  gitachaucho)  are  found  as  far  north 
as  Cape  Cod,  but  are  not  highly  valued  as  food  fish. 

Bass. — See  Black  bass.  Calico  bass,  Redfish,  Rock  bass.  Sea  bass, 
Striped  bass,  and  White  bass. 

The  "yellow  bass"  or  "brassy  bass"  (Morone  interrupta)  is  found 
throughout  the  lower  course  of  the  Mississippi;  the  "mud  bass" 
(Acantharchus  pomotis)  in  the  coastwise  streams  from  New  Jersey  to 
North  Carolina;  the  "silver  bass"  (Hiodon  tergisus)  in  the  Ohio 
Valley  and  northward  to  the  upper  Missouri .  The  ' '  Otsego  bass  "  is 
the  whitefish  (Coregonus  clupea/ormis)  of  Otsego  Lake,  New  York; 
the  "little  bass,"  the  little  roncador  (Genyonemus  Uneatus)  of  San 
Francisco. 

Beluga  (Delphinapterus  leucas). — A  whale  abundant  in  the  north 
Atlantic,  north  Pacific,  and  Arctic  Oceans.  Specimens  are  occasion- 
ally taken  as  far  south  as  Cape  Cod .  1 1  is  also  called  ' '  white  whale, ' ' 
"whitefish,"  "porpoise,"  "dauphin  blanc,"  "marsoon,"  etc.  It 
attains  a  length  of  15  feet  and  is  captured  for  its  oil  and  skin.  The 
oil  is  sold  under  the  name  of  "porpoise-jaw  oU;"  the  skin  is  made 
into  leather. 

Big-eyed  mackerel. — See  Chub  mackerel. 

Bill-pish. — A  name  applied  to  the  gar-pike  (Lepisosteus  osseus), 
to  the  garfish  ( Tylosurus  marinus),  and  to  the  spearSsh  ( Tetrapturus 
imperator). 

Black  bass  (Miaroplerus  salmoides  and  M.  dolomieu). — These  two 
species  are  known,  respectively,  as  "large-mouth  black  bass"  and 
"small-mouth  black  bass."  The  former  is  found  generally  in  slug- 
gish waters  from  Dakota  to  New  York  and  south  to  Florida  and 
Mexico.  It  is  known  in  the  Great  Lakes  region  as  "Oswego  bass," 
in  Indiana  as  "moss  bass,"  in  Kentucky  as  "jumper,"  in  North 
Carolina  as  "chub"  and  "Welshman,"  and  in  the  Southern  states  as 
"trout,"  "green  bass,"  and  "bayou  bass."  The  small-mouth  bass 
is  generally  found  in  clear  running  streams  from  Dakota  to  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  south  to  South  Carolina,  Alabama,  and  Arkansas. 
In  the  Southern  states  it  is  also  called  ' '  jumper, "  "  perch, "  "  trout, ' ' 
"mountain  trout,"  etc.  Each  species  is  from  1  to  2 J  feet  in  length 
and  weighs  from  2  to  8  pounds.  They  are  caught  with  hook  and 
line  and  furnish  a  considerable  quantity  of  excellent  food.  The 
name  is  also  applied  to  the  black  rockfish  (Sebaalodes  mystinus  and 
S.  melanops)  in  Puget  Sound. 

Blackfin. — A  whitefish  (Leucichthys  nigripinnis)  found  in  Lake 
Michigan;  also  called  "bluefin." 

Blackfish  (Globicephalus  melas). — An  important  and  abundant 
small  whale  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  south  as  New  Jersey. 
It  is  also  called  "pilot  whale,"  "grind  whale,"  etc.  Its  average 
length  is  from  15  to  18  feet;  average  weight,  1,000  pounds.  It  is 
captured  by  being  stranded  on  the  shore  and  by  harpooning,  and  is 
valuable  for  its  oil.  Fishermen  sometimes  use  this  whale  for  food 
and  bait.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  sea  bass  (Centroprisles 
striatus)  south  of  Cape  Hatteras  and  about  Marthas  Vineyard,  and  to 
the  tautog  ( Tauloga  onitis)  on  the  coast  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

Black  horse  (Cycleptus  elongatus). — A  sucker  found  in  the 
larger  streams  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is  also  called  "gourd- 
seed  sucker,"  "Missouri  sucker, "  "sweet sucker, "and  "suckerel." 
It  reaches  a  length  of  2J  feet  and  a  weight  of  from  5  to  12  pounds. 
A  good  food  fish . 

Blenny  (Blenniidx). — A  fish  of  little  economic  value,  found  on 
the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and  Gulf  coasts,  sometimes  sold  in  the  market 
as  "eels. " 

Blinks. — One-year-old  mackerel,  graded  fourth  in  the  markets. 

Blister. — A  very  young  oyster. 

Bloater. — A  fat  herring  or  mackerel. 

Blueback. — 1.  An  important  sahnon  (Oncorhynchus  nerlca)  found 
on  the  Pacific  coast  from  the  Columbia  River  northward.     In  the 


308 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


upper  Columbia  and  in  Alaska  it  is  called  "redfish,"  in  the  lower 
Columbia,  "blueback;"  in  Puget  Sound,  "sockeye;"  and  in  the 
Fraser  River,  "suk-kegh."  It  averages  about  8  pounds  in  weight 
and  ranks  next  to  the  Chinook  salmon  in  value  at  the  canneries. 
2.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  "glut  herring  "  (Pomolobus  xsti- 
valis)  in  Massachusetts  and  in  the  later  runs  of  the  Rappahannock. 

Blub  cod. — See  Cultus  cod. 

Bhtbfin  (Leucichthysnigripinnis). — One  of  the  whitefishes  found 
in  Lake  Michigan;  also  called  "blackfin." 

Bldefish  (Pomaiomus  saltatrix). — A  very  gamy  food  fish  found 
on  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts.  On  the  coast  of  the  New  England 
and  Middle  states  it  is  called  "bluefish;"  in  Rhode  Island,  "horse- 
mackerel;  "south  of  Cape  Hatteras,  "skipjack; "in  North  Carolina, 
Virginia,  and  Maryland,  "tailor"  and  "greenfish;"  in  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico,  "bluefish."  Young  bluefish  are  called  "snapping 
mackerel,"  "snappers,"  and  "salt-water  tailors"  in  some  parts  of 
New  England;  "blue  snappers"  about  New  Bedford,  and  "skip 
mackerel"  about  New  York.  Bluefish  vary  in  weight  from  1 
to  20  pounds,  according  to  season  and  locality.  Large  numbers 
are  caught  during  the  summer  months  with  nets,  traps,  seines, 
and  hand  lines.  The  name  is  improperly  applied  to  the  squeteague 
(Cynoscion  regalis)  from  southern  New  Jersey  to  Virginia,  to  the 
black  sea-bass  {Centropristes  striatus)  at  Newport  and  New  Bedford, 
to  the  "greenfish  "  (Girella  nigricans)  on  the  California  coast  south  of 
Monterey,  and  to  the  honito  (Sardasarda)  in  the  markets. 

Bluefish  mummichog. — See  Mullet. 

Blunt-nosed  shiner  (Selene  vomer). — A  familiar  food  fish  found 
along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Florida  to  Cape  Cod  and  in  the  Gulf 
of  Mexico.  It  is  known  in  various  places  as  "hogfish;"  in  North 
Carolina,  as  "moonfish"or  "8unfish;"in  Florida,  as  "moonfish;" 
at  Woods  Hole,  as  "humpbacked  butterfish; "  and  in  the  New  York 
market  and  Narragaiisett  Bay,  as  "pug-nosed  shiner."  It  is  from 
8  to  12  inches  long. 

Boccaccio. — See  Rockfish. 

BoNiTO  (Sarda  sarda). — A  food  fish  found  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 
It  weighs  from  2  to  10  pounds,  and  is  caught  with  hand  lines  and  in 
nets.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  all  the  larger  scombroids,  and 
to  the  cobia  (Rachycentron  canadum)  in  the  Chesapeake. 

BowFiN  {Amiatus  calva). — A  fresh-water  food  fish  found  in  the 
Great  Lakes  and  in  the  streams  which  flow  into  the  south  Atlantic 
and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  is  also  called  "dogfish,"  "sawyer," 
"mud-fish,"  "grindle,"  etc.,  in  different  localities.  It  reaches  a 
weight  of  10  to  12  pounds,  and  is  caught  with  hook  and  line.  It  is 
used  for  food  in  some  states. 

BowHEAD  (Balsena  mysticetus). — A  whale  of  great  commercial 
importance  foimd  in  the  Arctic  regions.  It  is  the  most  valuable 
of  all  whales.  It  yields  large  quantities  of  oil.  It  has  the  finest 
and  longest  baleen. 

Bream. — A  name  used  in  many  localities,  generally  with  some 
descriptive  prefix,  for  the  common  fresh-water  sunfish.  At  Charles- 
ton the  sailor's  choice  {Lagodon  rhomhcMes)  is  known  as  "salt-water 
bream."  The  golden  shiner  {Ahramis  crysoleucas)  is  also  called 
"bream"  in  some  localities,  as  is  the  rockfish  (Sebasies  marinus). 

Bbook  trout. — See  Speckled  trout. 

Buffalo  fish,Red  OR  BIG-MOUTHED  BUFFALO  (/cho6w«C!/pnn«Zto); 
Black  or  mongrel  buffalo  (/.  urus);  and  Small-mouthed  or 
white  BUFFALO  (/.  huholus). — These  fresh-water  suckers  are  com- 
mon to  the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  sometimes  weigh 
30  to  40  jx)unds.  They  are  caught  with  nets  and  hand  lines. 
"Buffalo  carp  "  is  a  name  sometimes  erroneously  applied  to  them. 

Bullfrog  (Rana  catesbiana). — A  very  familiar  fresh-water  am- 
phibian found  in  nearly  all  localities  in  the  United  States.  It  is 
the  largest  of  the  frogs,  sometimes  reaching  a  length  of  8  inches 
along  back.    The  hind  quarters  are  used  extensively  for  food. 

Bull-head. — See  Horned  pout. 

Burbot  (Lota  maculosa). — A  fresh- water  fish  found  in  most  of  the 
lakes  and  streams  in  the  northern  part  of  the  United  States.  In 
various  localities  it  is  called  "ling,"  "lawyer,"  "lake  cusk,"  "eel- 


pout,"   "dogfish,"   "chub-eel,"   "fresh-water  cod,"   "mother  of 
eels,"  "aleby  trout,"  etc.     It  reaches  a  length  of  30  inches. 

Butterfish  (Poronotus  triacanthus).—A  food  fish  found  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida.  It  is  called  "butterfish"  in 
Massachusetts  and  New  York,  "harvest-fish  "in  New  Jersey,  "dollar- 
fish"  in  Maine,  "sheepshead"  and  "skipjack"  about  Cape  Cod, 
"pumpkin-seed"  in  Connecticut,  and  "starfish"  at  Norfolk.  It 
has  an  average  length  of  7  to  8  inches,  and  is  caught  in  traps  and 
pounds. 

Cabhilla. — A  name  applied  indiscriminately  to  several  serranoid 
fishes  of  the  southern  coast  of  California.  They  are  also  called  "rock 
bass,"  "kelp  salmon,"  "Johnny  Verde,"  "lockee  cod"  (Chinese), 
etc.  They  are  from  1  to  2  feet  long,  weigh  2  to  5  pounds,  and  are 
used  extensively  for  food. 

Calico  bass  (Pomoxis  sparoides). — A  food  fish  found  in  the  Great 
Lakes,  in  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  in  the  streams  of  the  Carolinas 
and  eastern  Georgia.  In  Lake  Erie  and  in  Ohio  generally  it  is  called 
"strawberry  bass"  or  "grass  bass;"  in  Lake  Michigan,  "barfish;" 
in  Illinois,  "calico  bass;"  in  the  South,  "goggle-eye"  or  "goggle- 
eyed  perch;"  also  sometimes  called  "bitter-head,"  and  "lamp- 
lighter." It  averages  from  1  to  2  pounds  in  weight,  and  is  caught 
with  hook  and  line. 

Candlefish. — See  Eulachon.  The  black  candlefish  (Anoplopoma 
fimbria)  is  found  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  Monterey  northward. 

Capelin  (Mallotus  villosus). — A  small  fish  of  the  smelt  family 
found  in  the  north  Atlantic  as  far  south  as  Maine,  in  Bering  Sea, 
and  in  the  Arctic  Ocean.  It  reaches  a  length  of  about  12  inches. 
It  is  valuable  food  for  other  fish,  especially  the  cod,  and  is  used 
extensively  for  bait.  They  are  caught  in  seines  and  dip  nets, 
generally  at  night.  The  name  is  incorrectly  applied  to  the  silver- 
side  (Menidia  notata)  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston. 

Carp  {Cyprinus  carpio). — A  fresh-water  food  fish  of  great  interest 
to  fish  culturists,  now  found  in  ponds  and  streams  in  nearly  every 
state  of  the  Union.  As  a  result  of  domestication  several  varieties 
have  arisen,  the  principal  ones  being  the  "scale  carp,"  heavily 
scaled,  the  "mirror  carp,"  with  a  few  series  of  very  large  scales,  and 
the  "leather  carp,"  naked.  The  size  varies  with  the  temperature 
and  clearness  of  the  water,  the  abundance  and  nature  of  the  food 
supply,  the  kind  of  bottom,  etc.  They  live  to  a  ripe  old  age,  and 
sometimes  attain  a  weight  of  more  than  40  pounds.  Also  known  as 
"German  carp." 

Catfish  (Siluridx). — The  American  species  include  the  sea  cat- 
fishes  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  the  channel  cats  of  all  the  rivers  east  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  horned  pout  widely  distributed  through 
the  brooks  and  ponds  of  the  states,  and  the  diminutive  mad  toms. 
The  various  species  are  distinguished  by  the  common  names  of 
"channel cat,"  "bluecat,"  "Mississippi cat,"  "mud  cat,"  "flannel- 
mouth,"  "homed  pout,"  "bull-head,"  "minister,"  "goujon," 
"bashaw,"  "gaff-topsail,"  etc.  They  vary  in  length  from  1  to  5  feet 
and  in  weight  from  2  to  150  pounds.  They  are  caught  by  means 
of  nets  , traps,  hand  lines,  and  jugging,  and  are  largely  used  for  food. 

Cavalla.    See  Crevall6. 

Cero. — See  Spanish  mackerel. 

Cetaceans. — Marine  mammals,  more  or  less  fishUke  in  form, 
found  in  all  seas,  such  as  whales,  dolphins,  porpoises,  etc. 

Channel-bass. — See  Red-drum. 

Chicken  halibut. — A  name  applied  to  small  or  young  halibut. 
They  are  sold  at  a  slightly  higher  price  per  pound  than  the  common- 
sized  fish.  The  name  is  also  incorrectly  applied  to  the  summer 
flounder  {Paralichthys  dentatus). 

Chinook  salmon. — See  Quinnat. 

Chooset  {Tautogolabrus  adspersus). — This  fish  is  found  mostly  in 
bays  and  harbors  on  the  coast  north  of  New  York.  It  is  also  called 
"cunner,"  "sea  perch,"  "perch,"  "bergall,"  "nippers,"  "ba;t- 
stealer,"  etc.  It  is  similar  to  the  tautog  in  appearance  and  is  gen- 
erally associated  with  it;  it  is  from  8  to  10  inches  long,  and  weighs 
about  1  pound.  It  is  caught  in  bag  nets  and  with  hook  and  line, 
and  in  some  localities  used  for  food. 


APPENDIX. 


309 


Chub.- — This  name  is  given  most  frequently  to  varioue  Bpecies  of 
the  Cyprinidx.  They  are  found  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States, 
but  have  no  great  value  as  food  fish.  The  name  is  also  applied  to 
the  tautog  (Tautoga  onilis)  in  New  Jersey  and  in  the  Chesapeake, 
to  the  spot  (Leiostomus  xanthurus)  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  to  the 
large-mouth  black  bass  ( Muropterus  salmoides)  in  North  Carolina. 

Chxjb  mackerel  (Scomber  japonicus). — A  food  fish  of  much  less 
value  than  the  common  mackerel,  which  it  closely  resembles.  It 
is  found  irregularly  along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  and  in  the 
Pacific  as  far  north  aa  Monterey.  It  is  also  called  "thimble-eye," 
"big-eyed  mackerel , "  "  bull  mackerel, ""  easier  mackerel ,""  tinker 
mackerel,"  and  "little  mackerel."  It  reaches  a  length  of  about 
1  foot,  and  on  account  of  its  small  size  very  little  attention  is  paid  to 
it  wliere  the  common  mackerel  is  found. 

CiOAR-nSH. — See  Round  robin. 

Cisco  (Leucichthys  artedi). — One  of  the  lesser  whitefishes,  found 
in  the  Great  Lakes  and  neighboring  waters.  Other  names  are  "lake 
herring,"  "Michigan  herring,"  efo.  The  usual  length  is  a  little 
more  than  12  inches.  It  belongs  to  the  salmon  family.  The  name 
is  also  applied  to  a  related  species  of  less  economic  importance. 

Clam. — A  name  given  to  bivalve  moUusks  largely  used  for  food 
and  bait;  found  on  all  our  coasts.  V'arious  species,  most  of  which 
are  edible,  are  known  by  the  names  of  "soft  clam,"  "long  clam," 
"butter-fish,"  "mananoee,"  "nanninose,"  "squirt  clam,"  "qua- 
haug,"  "hard  clam,"  "surf  clam,"  "sea  clam,"  "hen  clam," 
"beach  clam,"  "dipper,"  "skimmer,"  "painted  clam,"  "cuneata 
clam,"  "round  clam,"  "little-neck  clam,"  "gapers,"  "tellens," 
"flat  clam,"  "razor  clam,"  "razor-fish,"  "knife-handle,"  "bull- 
nose,"  etc.  The  fishing  or  digging  of  these  bivalves  forms  an  im- 
portant industry  in  both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  states.  Dredges, 
rakes,  tongs,  hoes,  forks,  and  baskets  are  used  in  gathering  them. 
Large  quantities  are  salted  or  pickled  and  sold  for  bait. 

CoBiA  (Rachycentron  canadum). — One  of  the  most  important  food 
fishes  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  found  less  abundantly  along 
the  entire  coast  from  Cape  Cod  southward.  It  is  called  "bonito" 
and  "coalfish"  in  the  Chesapeake;  "sergeant-fish"  in  southern  and 
eastern  Florida;  "ling"  and  "snooks"  in  western  Florida;  and 
"crab-eater."     It  averages  from  2  to  3  feet  in  length. 

Cod  (GadvLS  callarias). — One  of  the  most  important  food  fishee  of 
the  United  States.  It  is  caught  most  extensively  along  the  coasts 
of  the  Middle  states.  New  England,  and  British  America.  It  varies 
in  weight  from  3  to  75  pounds.  It  is  caught  with  hand  lines,  trawls, 
nets,  etc.,  and  is  sold  fresh,  pickled,  salted,  and  dried.  Food  prepa- 
rations, such  as  boneless  and  desiccated  fish,  are  also  made  from 
cod.  The  sounds  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  glue.  The  Alaska 
cod  {Gadus  macrocephahis)  is  an  important  food  fish  found  from 
Bering  Sea  to  Or^on. 

The  skilfish  (Anoplopoma  fimbria)  is  known  as  the  "black  cod." 
The  redfish  (Sebastodes  melanops)  is  known  as  the  "red  cod." 

The  cultus  cod  (Ophiodon  eUmgatus)  is  always  called  "codfish" 
where  the  true  cod  is  unknown. 

Conch  (Strombus  gigas). — A  large  sea  snail  found  on  the  Atlantic 
coast  and  extensively  gathered  and  sold  for  ornaments,  for  the 
manufacture  of  porcelain  and  lime,  and  for  medicinal  purposes. 
The  animal  is  used  as  food  in  Key  West.  A  valuable  pearl  is  some- 
times derived  from  it. 

Crab. — A  general  term  applied  to  various  kinds  of  decapod  crus- 
taceans found  along  the  entire  coast.  The  different  species  vary 
much  in  size,  habit,  and  use,  and  are  designated  blue,  fiddler, 
green,  hermit,  horseshoe,  jonah,  kelp,  king,  lady,  mud,  oyster,  red, 
rock,  sand,  sea,  soldier,  spider,  stone,  etc.  The  edible  crabs  have 
names  applied  by  the  catchers,  describing  the  different. conditions 
of  the  shell.  While  shedding  they  are  known  as  "hard-shell," 
"comer,"  "buster,"  "peeler,"  and  "shedder;"  while  growing  a 
new  shell,  "soft-shell,"  "paper-shell,"  "buckler,"  and  "hard- 
shell." The  gathering  of  crabs  is  an  important  industry  along  the 
entire  Atlantic  coast.     They  are  caught  with  scrap  nets,  dip  nets, 


pots,  seines,  trawls,  hand  lines,  spears,  and  tongs,  and  are  used  for 
itxjd,  bait,  and  fertilizers.    The  fertilizers  are  sold  aa  "cancerine." 

Crappie  (Pomoxis  annularis). — A  fresh-water  food  fish  found  in 
the  Mississippi  Valley.  Local  names  are  "  bachelor,"  "  new  light," 
"campbellite,"  "sac-d-lait,"  "chinquapin perch,"  etc.  Itissome- 
times  confounded  with  the  calico  bass  (Pomoxis  sparoides). 

Craymsh,  or  Crawfish. — A  decapod  crustacean  found  in  most  of 
the  fresh-water  streams  of  North  America.  It  is  sometimes  called 
the  "spring  lobster."  The  principal  supply  is  obtained  at  New 
Orleans,  in  the  Potomac,  and  near  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the  prin- 
cipal markets  are  New  York  and  New  Orleans. 

Crevalle  (Carana:  hippos). — A  food  fish  very  abundanton  the  east 
Florida  and  Gulf  coasts,  and  occasionally  found  as  far  north  as  Cape 
Cod.  Local  names  are  "crevall6,"  "horse  crevall4, "  "horse- 
mackerel,"  etc.  The  average  weight  is  12  pounds.  The  name  is 
also  applied  to  the  cero  (Scomberomorus  cavalla). 

Croaker  (Mieropogon  undulattus). — A  food  fish  found  mostly  in 
the  South,  but  sometimes  caught  as  far  north  as  New  York.  Local 
names  are  "crocus"  and  "ronco."  It  averages  about  10  inches  in 
length.  Large  quantities  are  caught  in  the  Gulf  with  hand  lines 
and  seines,  and  sell  at  low  prices. 

Also  a  local  name  for  blue  surf-fish  (Emhiotoca  jacksoni)  at  San 
Diego,  and  for  the  fresh-water  drum  (Aplodinotus  grunniens)  in 
northern  Indiana. 

CuLTCH. — The  spawn  of  the  oyster;  also  materials  used  to  form 
the  spawning  bed  for  oysters. 

CuLTua  COD  (Ophiodon  elongatus).—K  common  food  fish  found  on 
the  Pacific  coast  from  Sitka  to  Santa  Barbara.  Common  names  are 
"codfish,"  "ling,"  "bastard  cod,"  "buffalo  cod,"  "blue  cod,"  etc. 
It  averages  about  8  pounds  in  weight,  and  is  caught  on  hooks  and  in 
sweep  nets. 

Cuneata  clam  (Gnathodon  cuneatus). — This  clam  is  found  in  large 
quantities  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  is  used  as  an  article  of  food. 
The  shell  is  used  for  road  making.  The  famous  shell  roads  of  the 
South  are  constructed  of  these  shells,  taken  from  Lakes  Pontchar- 
train  and  Salvador. 

Cunner. — See  Chogset. 

CusK  (Brosme  brosme). — ^A  deep-water  food  fish  found  in  the  Atlan- 
tic Ocean  north  of  Cape  Cod. 

Cuttle-pish  ( Cephalopoda) . — Mollusks  found  in  large  numbers  all 
along  the  coast.  The  "common  squid,"  "octopus,"  "calamary, " 
"sea  arrow,  "  etc.,  are  different  species  found  in  particular  localities. 
They  are  caught  in  fish  pounds,  seines,  weirs,  and  trawls,  and  with 
fishhooks;  large  numbers  are  also  taken  by  driving  them  on  shore  by 
"torching."  Some  are  caught  with  a  peculiar  arrangement  of 
hooks  called  a  "squid  jig. "  Different  species  vary  in  length  from 
a  few  inches  to  50  feet.  They  are  important  as  a  bait  for  many  useful 
fish  and  as  food  for  man.  Oil,  "cuttle  bone,"  a  dentifrice,  india 
ink,  etc.,  are  also  obtained  from  them. 

Dace. — A  common  name  applied  to  different  species  of  the  Cyp- 
rinidx  family,  generally  modified  by  some  descriptive  prefix,  as 
"homed  dace, "  "red  dace, "  etc. 

Diamond-back. — See  Terrapin. 

Dogfish  (Squalus  acanthias). — A  shark  foimd  abundantly  in  the 
north  Atlantic,  sometimes  ranging  south  to  Cuba.  On  the  Pacific 
coast  is  found  <S.  sucklii.  It  reaches  a  length  of  3  feet.  They  are 
captured  for  their  livers  and  skins,  the  former  producing  large  quan- 
tities of  oil,  and  the  latter,  when  dried,  being  used  for  polishing  pur- 
poses. The  names  "smooth-dogfish,"  "horned  dogfish,"  etc.,  are 
applied  to  related  species.  The  name  dogfish  is  also  applied  to  the 
bowfin  (Amiatus  calva)  in  the  region  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  to  the 
burbot  (Lota  maculosa)  about  Lake  Erie. 

Dolphin. — 1.  Cetaceans  abundant  everywhere  in  temperate  and 
tropical  seas;  also  known  by  the  names  of  "porpoise,"  "cowfish, " 
"herring-hogs,  "  "puffers,  "  etc.  Dolphins  are  from  5  to  15  feet  long 
and  weigh  from  100  to  500  pounds.  They  are  captured  in  nets,  by 
harpooning,  and  by  driving  them  ashore,  and  are  used  for  bait  and 


810 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


for  the  oil  and  leather  they  produce.  2.  A  pelagic  fish  {Coryphsena 
hippums)  sometimes  found  on  our  coasts. 

Davyi  {Pogonias  chromis). — 1.  A  large  food  fish  found  plentifully 
in  the  south  Atlantic  Ocean  and  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  occasionally 
taken  as  far  north  as  Cape  Cod.  The  young  and  adult  fish  are 
respectively  known  as  "striped  drum"  and  "black  drum."  The 
average  weight  is  20  pounds.  They  are  caught  in  seines  and  gill  neta 
and  with  hook  and  line.  The  flesh  is  coarse,  but  sweet  and  tender. 
The  large  and  silvery  scales  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  "fish- 
scale  jewelry. "  2.  The  fresh-water  drum  (Aplodinolus  grunniens) 
is  found  in  all  large  bodies  of  water  from  the  Great  Lakes  to  the  Rio 
Grande.  It  is  known  as  the  "sheepshead  "  on  the  Great  Lakes;  as 
"perch,"  "white  perch, "and  "gray  perch"  on  the  Ohio  River;  as 
"crocus"  on  the  lakes  of  northern  Indiana;  as  "drum"  and  "thun- 
der-pumper" in  the  Southern  states;  and  as  "gaspergou"  in 
Arkansas,  Louisiana,  and  Texas.  ' '  Jewel-head  "  is  sometimes  heard . 
It  reaches  a  length  of  4  feet  and  a  weight  of  from  40  to  60  pounds.  1 1 
is  a  food  fish,  but  not  of  fine  quality.  3.  Redfish  or  red  drum 
(Scixnops  ocellatus). 

Dun-fish. — Cod  or  other  fish  that  are  slack-salted  and  dried  or 
cured  in  a  dark  room  until  they  turn  an  amber  or  dun  color.  They 
are  much  esteemed  for  food. 

Eel  (Anguilla  chrisypa). — A  very  common  food  fish  found  in  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  both  fresh 
and  salt  waters.  Eels  are  caught  in  weirs,  neta,  traps,  pots,  baskets, 
and  with  spears  and  hand  lines,  and  are  sold  fresh  and  canned.  The 
skin  is  used  for  mechanical  purposes. 

EuLACHON  {Thaleichthys  padjkus). — A  small  fish  common  in  the 
rivers  and  coast  waters  of  the  north  Pacific.  The  Indian  name 
"oolican"  (hoolakins)  is  often  used.  The  trade  name  is  "candle- 
fish."  On  the  Columbia  River  the  name  "smelt"  is  used.  The 
length  averages  a  little  less  than  1  foot.  It  is  an  excellent  food  fish, 
and  is  also  of  importance  for  the  oil  it  yields,  which  is  used  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  cod-liver  oil. 

Finback  (Balxnoptera  physalus) . — This  is  a  large  whale  common 
to  all  seas.  It  attains  a  length  of  about  70  feet,  and  is  captured  by 
stranding  or  by  the  use  of  the  bomb  lance.  It  yields  very  little  oil 
or  baleen.  Other  species  are  found  in  the  north  Atlantic  and  on  the 
Pacific  coast. 

Flatfish. — A  name  applied  to  a  large  group  of  fishes  which  have 
the  body  much  compressed,  both  eyes  on  one  side  of  the  head,  the 
blind  side  colorless  and  usually  lowermost  in  the  water.  It  is  the 
common  name  given  to  the  family  of  flounders  (Pkuronectidx). 

Flounder  (Pleuronectidx) . — The  family  of  flounders  is  composed 
of  the  turbots  (Bolhinx),  the  halibuts  (Hippoglosdnx),  the  plaices 
{PUuroneciinx),  and  probably  the  soles  {Soleidx).  The  name  is 
variously  applied  to  the  flat  fishes  found  on  all  our  coasts,  as  "Amer- 
ican sole,"  "bastard  halibut,"  "Monterey  halibut,"  "winter  floun- 
der," "  starry  flounder,"  "rough  limanda,"  "diamond  flounder," 
"long-finned sole,"  "sand-dab,"  "rough dab,"  "Greenland  turbot," 
"pole  flounder,"  "craig  flounder,"  "spotted  sand  flounder,"  etc. 
They  are  of  all  sizes  and  vary  in  shape;  caught  in  weirs,  pounds, 
seines,  and  nets,  and  with  hand  lines  and  gaffs,  and  sold  for  food 
and  bait. 

FuB  SE  AL  ( Collorhinus  wdnus) . — ^A  fur-bearing  sea  mammal  found 
from  California  northward;  especially  abundant  upon  the  Pribilof 
Islands.  Its  skin  is  of  great  commercial  value.  Its  flesh  is  not 
used  for  food  except  by  the  natives. 

Garfish  (Tylosurxis  marinus). — A  fish  of  little  economic  impor- 
tance common  on  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  from  Maine  to  Texas. 
It  often  ascends  rivers  for  great  distances.  It  is  also  called  ' '  needle- 
fish" in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  "garfish"  on  the  Altantic  coast,  and 
"tea-snipe,"  "silver  gar,"  and  "billfish"  in  different  localities. 
It  is  about  2J  feet  long  and  weighs  about  2  pounds.  Other  species 
are  known  as  "needle-fish"  and  "houndfish"  or  "agujon." 

Gak-pike  (Lepisosteus  osseus). — A  destructive  fish  found  in  the 
Great  Lakes,  throughout  the  Mississippi  Valley,  and  in  most  of  the 
Streams  of  the  Southern  states.     Other  names  often  used  are  "gar," 


."billfish,"  "swordfish,"  'long-nosed  gar-pike,"  etc.  It  reaches  a 
length  of  5  or  6  feet.     The  flesh  is  tough  and  not  edible. 

The  short-nosed  gar  (L.  platystomus)  is  smaller  than  the  preceding 
and  has  the  same  geographic  distribution,  but  is  less  common  north- 
ward. 

The  alligatorgar  (L.  Iristxchtis)  is  found  in  all  waters  tributary  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  as  far  north  as  the  Ohio  River.  It  attains  a  length 
of  10  feet,  but  averages  about  2  feet.     It  is  of  no  value  as  a  food  fish. 

Gaspebbau. — The  Canadian  name  for  the  alewife  (Pomolohus 
pseudoharengus) . 

Goldfish  {Carassius  auratus). — A  small  fre.sh-water  fish,  closely 
allied  to  the  carp,  native  to  eastern  China.  They  are  used  only  as 
ornaments  for  aquaria.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  a  California 
damsel-fish  {Ilypsypops  ruhicundus). 

Goody, — See  Spot. 

GoosEPiSH  {Lophius  piscalorius). — A  large  sluggish  fish  found  on 
the  north  Atlantic  coast  from  Nova  Scotia  to  Cape  Lookout.  Local 
names  are  "angler,"  "fishing  frog,"  monkfish,"  "bellows-fish," 
"molligut,"  "all-mouth,"  "wide-gape,"  "kettleman,"  etc.  It 
reaches  a  length  of  4  feet  and  a  weight  of  40  pounds.  Although  pala- 
table, it  is  seldom  used  for  food,  being  principally  used  as  bait  for 
lobster  pots. 

Grampus  {Grampus  griseus). — A  large  dolphin  taken  on  the  Atlan- 
tic coast.  It  isalsocalled  "cowfish."  It  attains  a  length  of  1.5  to  20 
feet,  and  is  valuable  for  the  oil  it  yields.  A  smaller  species  (G. 
stearnsii)  is  found  on  the  California  coast. 

Grayling  ( Thymallus  signifer) . — A  beautiful  fish  found  in  Alaska. 
It  averages  10  or  11  inches  in  length  and  half  a  pound  in  weight. 
Varieties  are  found  in  Montana  ( T.  montanus)  and  Michigan  ( T.  tri- 
color) and  are  of  groat  interest  to  anglers. 

Gray  whale  (Rhachianectes  glaucus). — A  large  whale  found  along 
the  Pacific  coast;  also  called  "devilfish,"  "hard-head,"  "gray 
back,"  "rip  sack,"  "mussel  digger,"  etc.  It  averages  35  or  40  feet 
in  length,  and  is  captured  for  its  oil  and  baleen. 

Green  turtle  {Chelonia  midas). — This  turtle  is  found  on  the  coast 
from  Long  Island  Sound  to  Florida  and  along  the  Gulf  coast.  In  the 
different  localities  it  varies  in  size,  from  8  pounds  at  Beaufort,  N.  C, 
to  1,000  pounds  at  Cedar  Keys,  Fla.  The  flesh  of  this  turtle  forms 
the  basis  of  the  well-known  turtle  soup;  the  eggs  are  valuable  for 
food  and  for  the  oil  they  yield.  A  closely  related  species  is  found 
on  the  coast  of  southern  California. 

Grilse. — A  young  salmon  on  its  first  return  to  fresh  water,  usually 
in  its  second  year  of  life.  It  then  weighs  from  2  to  (i  pounds,  and  is 
of  great  value  as  a  food  fish.    See  Salmon. 

Grouper  (Epinephelus) . — A  food  fish  found  off  the  south  Atlantic 
coast  and  in  the  Gulf.  The  different  species  are  known  as  "red 
grouper,"  "brown  snapper,"  red-bellied  snapper,"  "black  grouper," 
"jewfish,"  "Warsaw,"  "spotted  hind,"  "banded  grouper,"  "rock- 
fish,"  etc.  They  vary  in  size  greatly,  the  "jewfish  "  exceeding  100 
pounds.  All  are  caught  with  hook  and  line.  The  name  "grouper  " 
is  also  applied  to  the  rock  cod  of  southern  California  and  to  the  triple- 
tail  of  the  St.  Johns  River. 

Grunt. — The  name  of  several  small  HxmvMdx  quite  common  off 
the  south  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts,  and  sometimes  found  on  the 
California  coast.  Different  species  are  known  as  "black  grunt," 
"rod-mouth  grunt,"  "flannel-mouthed  poi^y,"  "pigfish,"  "hog- 
fish,"  "sailor's  choice,"  "sai^o,"  "pork-fish,"  etc.  All  are  caught 
with  hook  and  line  and  are  valued  as  food  fish.  They  make  a  pecul- 
iar grunting  noise  when  taken  out  of  the  water. 

Haddock  (Mclanogrammus  a-glifinus). — A  food  fish  found  in  the 
Atlantic  north  of  the  Delaware  capes;  called  "dickie"  in  some 
localities.  It  averages  in  weight  from  4  to  6  poimds.  It  is  exten- 
sively caught  for  a  fresh  food  fish,  and  is  also  salted,  pickled,  and 
dried.  When  slack-salted  and  smoked  it  is  sold  under  the  name 
of  "haddie."  The  sounds  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  glue. 
Trawls  and  hand  lines  are  used  in  catching  them. 

Hake  (Urophycis). — Not  true  hakes.  A  food  fish  found  off  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  Newfoundland  to  Cape  Hatteras.     Different 


APPENDIX. 


311 


species  are  known  as  "old  English  hake,"  "equirrel  hake,"  "white 
hake,"  "ling,"  'king  hake,"  "codling,"  etc.  They  are  often  pre- 
pared under  the  trade  name  of  "boneless  fish."  They  average  from 
IJ  to  2  feet  in  length  and  3  to  8  pounds  in  weight,  and  are  caught 
near  muddy  bottoms  with  trawls  and  hand  lines  and  in  weirs  and 
traps.  They  are  eaten  fresh,  and  are  salted  and  dried,  and  pickled 
in  barrels.  The  sound,  or  air  bladder,  is  of  groat  commercial 
importance  in  the  manufacture  of  isinglass.  The  name  is  also 
applied  to  the  kingfish  { Mentunrrhus  saxatilis)  on  the  coast  of  New 
Jersey  and  Delaware.  The  California  hake  (Merluccius  producttis) 
and  the  New  England  whiting  (Merluccius  bilinearis)  or  "silver 
hake  "  are  true  hakes. 

Halibut  (Ilippoglossus  hippoglossus). — The  largest  and  most 
valuable  of  the  flat  fishes;  found  in  the  North  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Oceans.  It  is  one  of  the  largest  species  used  for  food,  sometimes 
weighing  over  300  pounds.  The  average  weight  is  from  50  to  75 
pounds.  It  is  caught  with  trawls  and  hand  lines.  There  are  three 
grades  of  halibut.  The  "white,"  which  has  its  underside  immac- 
ulate, is  considered  best  and  brings  the  highest  price;  the  "gray" 
is  blotched  on  the  under  side  and  sells  fur  a  third  less;  the  "sour" 
is  tainted,  and  brings  only  about  one-foiu-th  as  much  as  the  "white." 
Small  young  fish,  weighing  from  10  to  20  pounds,  are  called  "chick- 
ens," and  are  much  sought  after  by  epicures.  Halibut  are  sold 
fresh  and  are  also  cured  and  smoked.  The  napes  are  pickled. 
An  oil  used  for  currying  purposes  is  made  from  the  head,  and  the 
residue  is  used  as  a  fertilizer  under  the  name  of  "chum."  See 
Flounder. 

Haliotis. — See  Abalone. 

Hawks-bill  turtle  (Chelonia  imbricata). — This  turtle  is  found 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  south  of  North  Carolina  and  throughout  the 
Gulf.  It  is  also  called  the  "tortoise-shell  turtle."  It  reaches  a 
weight  of  about  300  pounds.  It  is  of  no  value  for  food,  but  is 
caught  for  the  hornlike  scales  or  plates  which  cover  its  bony  shell, 
which  form  the  "tortoise  shell"  of  commerce.  A  closely  related 
species  is  found  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

Herring  [Clupea  harengus). — A  very  important  food  fish  found 
in  the  north  Atlantic  as  far  south  as  Sandy  Hook;  it  is  never  found 
in  brackish  or  fresh  waters.  "Sperling"  and  "brit"  denote  differ- 
ences in  the  age  of  the  fish.  They  weigh  from  one-half  to  1  pound; 
average  length,  10  inches.  They  are  caught  in  pounds,  traps, 
weirs,  and  gill  nets,  and  by  "torching."  As  a  food  fi.sh  they  are 
used  fresh,  salted,  pickled,  smoked,  and  canned;  used  also  exten- 
sively for  bait  in  the  cod,  haddock,  halibut,  and  hake  fisheries. 

The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  Gulf  menhaden  (Brevoortm 
patronus)  on  the  Texas  coast  and  to  the  menhaden  (B.  tyranmxs)  in 
southern  Florida.  The  hickory  shad  {Dorosoma  cepedianum)  is 
called  "thread  herring"  in  North  Carolina.  The  "big-eyed  her- 
ring" (Flops  saunis)  appears  in  America  north  to  the  Carolinas  and 
Gulf  of  California.  The  California  herring  (Clupea  pallasi)  is  found 
the  entire  length  of  the  Pacific  coast.  The  Rocky  Mountain  white- 
fish  (Coregonus  williamsoni)  is  called  "mountain  herring"  in  Utah. 
For  "lake  herring"  and  "Michigan  herring,"  see  Cisco;  for  "branch 
herring,"  "big-eyed herring,"  "wall-eyed herring,"  "glut herring," 
"English  herring,"  "spring  herring,"  and  "summer  herring,"  see 
Alewife;  for  "fall  herring,"  see  Mattowacca. 

HoGFisH  (Lachnolaimus  maximus). — A  much-esteemed  food  fish 
found  about  the  Florida  reefs,  where  it  is  caught  by  line  fishermen. 
It  averages  3  to  5  pounds  in  weight.  The  name  is  also  applied  to 
the  log  perch  (Percina  caprodes),  to  me  pigfish  (Orthopristis  chrysop- 
tenis),  and  to  the  blunt-nosed  shiner  (Selene  vomer). 

Horned  pout  (Amtiurus  nebulosus). — A  catfish  found  in  the 
fresh  waters  of  the  Eastern,  Northern,  and  Southern  states,  and  in 
California.  It  is  also  called  "bull-head,"  "bull-pout,"  "minister," 
etc.     It  averages  about  12  inches  in  length  and  1 J  pounds  in  weight. 

HoRNEY-HEAD. — A  Small  daco  (ITybopsis  kentiickiensis),  found 
abundantly  in  rivers  from  New  York  to  Alabama  and  in  the  West. 

HoRSEFisH. — See  Blunt-nosed  shiner.  The  name  is  also  applied 
to  the  Sanger  (Stizostedion  canadense). 


IIoRSEFOOT. — A  local  name  for  the  horseshoe  crab  or  king  crab. 

UoHSE-MACKEREL  (  Thymius  Ihyiinus). — The  largest  of  the  mack- 
erel family,  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  to  Newfoundland  and  on 
the  California  coast  to  Monterey  Bay.  Also  called  "tunny," 
"tuna,"  and  "albacore."  The  average  length  is  about  8  feet.  A 
good  food  fish  and  yields  much  oil,  etc.  The  name  is  also  appUed 
to  the  bluefish  (Pomatomus  saltalrix)  in  Rhode  Island;  to  the  jurel 
(Caranx  chrysos)  at  Fort  Macon;  to  the  crevall6  (Caranx  hippos); 
to  the  California  hake  ( Merluccius  productus)  on  the  Pacific  coast; 
and  to  several  Pacific  coast  species  of  little  importance. 

Horseshoe  crab  (Limulus  polyphemus) . — A  crustacean  found 
on  the  Atlantic  coa-st  in  large  numbers;  also  called  "king  crab," 
"horsefoot,"  etc.  It  is  caught  by  hand  and  in  pounds  and  weirs, 
and  is  used  for  both  bait  and  food,  but  most  extensively  for  fertiliz- 
ing purposes. 

Humpback  (Megaptera  nodosa). — A  whale  found  in  both  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  Ocoans.  It  attains  a  length  of  50  feet.  It  is 
valuable  for  its  oil,  but  the  baleen  is  short  and  of  poor  quality. 

Humpbacked  butterkish. — See  Blunt-nosod  shiner. 

Jack. — A  name  applied  to  the  common  pickerel  (Esox  retieulatus) 
in  the  South,  to  the  bocaccio  (Sebastodes  paudspinis)  on  the  Pacific 
coast,  and  to  the  wall-eyed  pike  (Stizostedion  vitreum)  in  the  South. 

Jack-fish. — See  Jurel. 

Jack  SALMON. — See  WaU-eyed  pike. 

Jewfish  (Stereolepis  gigas).- — The  largest  food  fish  found  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  sometimes  reaching  a  weight  of  500  pounds.  It  is  also 
called  "black  sea-bass."  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  black 
grouper  (Garrupa  nigrila)  in  Florida  and  Texas,  and  to  the  tarpon 
( Tarpon  atlanticus)  in  Georgia  and  Florida. 

Jurel  (Caranx  chrysos). — A  food  fish  found  along  the  Atlantic  and 
Gulf  coasts.  It  is  known  about  Pensacola  as  "jurel"  and  "hard- 
tail;"  along  the  Florida  coast  as  "jack-fish"  and  "skipjack;"  ia 
South  Carolina  as  the  "horse  crevall6;"  at  Fort  Macon  as  the  "horse- 
mackerel;"  and  about  New  York  and  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  as 
the  "yellow  mackerel."  They  measure  from  12  to  18  inches  in 
length,  and  are  caught  in  seines. 

Killer  whale  (Orca  orca). — A  whale  from  15  to  30  feet  long  that 
abounds  in  both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans,  but  is  seldom 
captured.  The  Makah  Indians  of  Washington  consider  them  choice 
food.  The  jaws,  studded  with  strong,  conical  teeth,  are  sold  as 
curiosities. 

King  crab. — <See  Horseshoe  crab. 

Kingfish  (Menticirrhus  saxatilis). — A  food  fish  found  on  the 
coasts  of  the  Middle  and  South  Atlantic  states,  and  occasionally  on 
the  Gulf  coast.  It  is  called  "hake"  in  New  Jersey,  "tomcod"  in 
Connecticut,  "black  mullet"  in  the  Chesapeake,  "sea  mink"  in 
North  Carolina,  and  ' '  whiting  "  in  the  South.  Also  a  common  name 
for  the  cero  (Scomberomorus  cavalla). 

King  sklmon. — See  Quinnat. 

Ladyfish;  (Albula  vulpes). — A  fish  of  wide  distribution  in  tem- 
perate and  tropical  waters;  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  north 
as  Cape  Cod,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  to  San 
Diego.  On  account  of  its  beautiful  color  it  sella  readily,  but  is  not 
much  esteemed  as  a  table  fish. 

Lake  herring. — See  CLsco. 

Lake  trout  (Cristivorner  namaycush). — ^The  trout  found  in  the 
Great  Lakes  and  in  the  smaller  lakes  of  the  Northern  states.  In 
different  localities  the  individuals  vary  greatly  in  color,  size,  and 
shape,  and  are  known  by  the  local  names  "salmon  trout,"  "namay- 
cush," "togue,"  "tuladi,"  "Mackinaw  trout,"  "lake  salmon," 
"black  trout,"  "reef  trout,"  "longe,"  etc.  The  "siscowet"  is 
another  variety  of  this  species. 

Lamprey  (Petromyzonidse) . — A  fish  of  little  commercial  value, 
found  in  nearly  all  the  fresh  and  brackish  waters  of  the  LTnited 
States.  It  is  also  known  by  the  names  "lamper  eel,"  "nine-eye," 
etc. 

Lant  (Ammodytes  americanus). — A  small  fish  found  on  the  north 
Atlantic  coaat,  probably  as  far  south  as  Maryland,  and  A.  peraonatiu 


812 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


in  California  and  Alaska.  It  is  also  known  as  the  "sand  eel"  and 
"sand-lance,"  because  it  frequently  imbeds  itself  in  the  sand.  The 
average  length  is  about  10  inches. 

Ling. — A  local  name  given  to  the  hake  (  Urophycis)  in  the  Gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence  and  south  of  Cape  Cod;  to  the  burbot  (Lota  maculosa) 
in  Lake  Ontario,  the  lakes  of  western  New  York,  and  in  the  New 
York  market;  to  the  mutton-fish  (Zoarces  anguillaris)  in  different 
localities;  to  the  cobia  (Rachycentrom  canadum)  in  western  Florida; 
and  to  the  cultus  cod  (Ophiodon  elongatus)  about  Puget  Sound. 

Lobster  (Homarus  americanus). — A  decapod  crustacean  of  great 
economic  importance,  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Delaware  to 
Labrador.  It  averages  about  11  inches  in  length  and  about  2  pounds 
in  weight,  but  the  size  varies  with  localities  and  seasons.  It  ia 
caught  in  pots  and  traps  especially  constructed  for  this  fishery. 

The  "spiny  lobster"  of  California  and  Florida  is  a  different 
species;  it  averages  3J  pounds  in  weight. 

Loggerhead  ( Thalassochelys  caretla). — A  turtle  of  small  economic 
value,  found  in  the  Atlantic  as  far  north  as  Massachusetts  and  in  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  reaches  a  weight  of  1,500  pounds,  but  those 
taken  average  only  about  50  pounds.  They  are  caught  by  divers. 
Only  a  small  number  are  sold  for  food,  as  the  flesh  is  not  palatable, 
but  the  eggs  are  highly  esteemed.  An  inferior  quality  of  oil  is 
obtained  from  this  turtle. 

Lump-fish  (Cyclopterus  lumpus). — An  unwieldy  fish,  widely  dis- 
tributed throughout  the  north  Atlantic,  ranging  on  the  coast  as  far 
Boutii  as  Chesapeake  Bay.  The  average  weight  is  about  5  pounds. 
It  is  of  little  economic  value,  but  on  account  of  its  bright  colors  is 
often  found  in  the  markets. 

Mackerel  (Scomber  scombrus).- — A  very  important  food  fish, 
found  in  the  north  Atlantic  south  to  Cape  Hatteras.  They  range 
from  9  to  18  inches  in  length  and  J  to  3  pounds  in  weight,  and  are 
caught  in  purse  seines,  pounds,  weirs,  gill  nets,  etc.,  and  with  hook 
and  line.  They  are  sold  fresh,  salted,  pickled,  and  canned,  and  are 
sometimes  used  for  bait.  Small  mackerel  are  known  as  "spikes" 
(5  to  6  inches  long),  "blinkers"  (7  to  8  inches  long),  and  "tinkers" 
(9  inches  long).  See  Atka  mackerel,  Spanish  mackerel,  chub 
mackerel,  horse-mackerel. 

Mademoiselle. — See  Yellowtail. 

Manatee  (  THehechus  latirostris). — A  sirenian  found  on  the  Florida 
coast  in  Tery  small  numbers;  also  called  "sea-cow."  They  are 
from  6  to  8  feet  long,  and  are  caught  in  rope  nets  and  with  spears  and 
javelins.  On  account  of  their  scarcity  they  have  become  very 
valuable  as  specimens.  They  are  also  converted  into  food,  oil,  and 
leather. 

Maroate-fish  (Hsemulon  album). — A  grunt  found  in  southern 
Plorida;  known  also  as  "porgy,"  "market-fish,"  etc.  The  largest 
measure  about  16  inches  in  length.  They  are  caught  mostly  for  bait, 
but  in  some  places  they  are  sold  for  food. 

Market-fish. — See  Margate-fish. 

Marshbanker. — See  Menhaden. 

Mattowacca  (Dorosoma  cepedianum). — A  poor  food  fish  found  on 
the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida,  ascending  rivers.  It  is 
called  "hickory  shad"  and  "hicks,"  particularly  in  the  South; 
"tailor  shad,"  "tailor  herring,"  and  "fresh-water  tailor"  in  the 
Potomac;  and  "forerunner"  and  "fall  herring"  in  some  rivers,  in 
allusion  to  the  time  of  its  run  and  that  of  the  "white  shad."  It 
averages  12  to  15  inches  in  length  and  2  to  3  pounds  in  weight. 

Medialbha  (Medialuna  calif ornienm). — An  excellent  food  fish 
found  on  the  California  coast  south  of  Point  Conception;  also  called 
"half-moon."  It  reaches  a  weight  of  3  or  4  pounds  and  a  length  of 
about  a  foot. 

Menhaden  (Brevoortia  tyrannus). — A  fish  of  the  herring  family, 
found  along  the  Atlantic  seaboard  from  Maine  to  Florida,  sometimes 
as  far  inland  as  brackish  water  extends.  It  is  known  by  a  great 
number  of  local  names,  the  most  common  being  "pogy,"  "hard- 
head," "hard-head  shad,"  "bony  fish,"  "whitefish,"  "moss- 
bunker,"  "bunker,"  "cheboy,"  "marsh banker,"  "alewiie,"  "old- 
wife,"  "ellwiie,"  "pilcher,"  "green-tail,"  "bug-fish,"  "bug-ahad," 


"bug-head,"  "fat-back,"  "yellowtail,"  "shiner,"  "herring,"  etc. 
The  average  length  is  10  to  12  inches;  average  weight  two-thirds 
of  a  pound  to  1  pound.  They  arecaught  in  purse  seines,  haul  seines, 
gill  nets,  set  nets,  and  weirs.  They  are  of  economic  importance 
mainly  for  the  oil  and  guano  which  are  produced  from  them;  they 
are  also  used  as  bait  for  mackerel,  cod,  halibut,  haddock,  sea-bass, 
etc.  Asafood  fish theyaresold  freshandsaltedand canned.  "Fish- 
meal,"  a  food  for  domestic  animals,  is  also  made  from  them.  An- 
other species  (B.  patronus)  is  found  on  the  Gulf  coast. 

Menomi.vee  (Coregonus  qicadrilateralw). — See  Whitefish. 

Merluccio  ( Merluccius  productus). — A  poor  food  fish  found  on  the 
Pacific  coast  from  Santa  Barbara  northward.  It  is  also  called 
"hake,"  "horse-mackerel,"  etc.  It  averages  5  to  6  pounds  in 
weight. 

Missouri  sucker. — Sec  Black  horse. 

Moon-eye  (Eiodon  tcrgisns). — A  beautiful  fresh-water  food  fish 
found  in  the  Lake  region  and  in  the  larger  tributaries  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. It  is  also  called  "silver  bass"  and  "toothed  herring."  It 
weighs  from  1  to  2  pounds,  and  is  caught  with  hook  and  line  and  in 
dip  nets.  Also  a  common  name  for  the  cisco  (Argyrosomus  hoyi)  of 
Lake  Michigan. 

MooNFisH  (Chxtodipterusfaber). — A  food  fish  caught  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  from  Woods  Hole  southward,  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and 
on  the  California  coast.  In  the  northern  parts  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
it  is  called  "spadefish;"  from  Florida  to  Charleston  "angel-fish;" 
and  at  Beaufort,  N.  C,  "porgee"and  "pogy."  The  average  length 
is  not  more  than  8  inches.  A  local  name  for  the  blunt-nosed  shiner 
(Selene  vomer)  in  North  Carolina  and  Florida. 

Mossbunker. — See  Menhaden. 

Mullet  (Mugil  cephalus  and  M.  curema). — Two  species  of  mullet 
are  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  known  as  the  "striped  mullet"  and 
the  "white  mullet."  The  former  is  the  larger  and  has  8  instead  of 
9  rays  in  the  anal  fin  and  42  instead  of  38  scales  between  the  gill 
openings  and  base  of  the  caudal  fin.  The  "striped  mullet "  is  found 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Brazil  and  on  the  coast  of 
southern  California,  ascending  streams;  the  "white  mullet,"  from 
Cape  Cod  southward.  Local  names  are  "bluefish  mummichog," 
"jumping  mullet,"  "sand  mullet,"  fat-back,"  "silver  mullet," 
"big-eyed  mullet,"  "blue-back  mullet,"  "liza,"  or  "josea." 
M.  cephalus  is  the  most  important  of  all  the  food  fishes  of  the  South, 
and  greatly  surpasses  M.  curema  both  in  numbers  and  in  economic 
importance.  It  averages  about  1  foot  in  length  and  1  pound  in 
weight,  but  sometimes  reaches  a  weight  of  4  to  5  pounds  and  a 
length  of  24  inches.  It  is  caught  in  haul  seines,  gill  nets,  cast  nets, 
pound  nets,  etc.,  and  is  sold  fresh  and  salted;  the  roe  is  also  very 
valuable  food,  and  is  sold  fresh,  salted,  smoked,  and  dried. 

For  "black  mullet,"  see  King-fish;  for  "ground  mullet,"  see 
Whiting.  Many  suckers  of  the  genus  Moxostoma  are  called  "mul- 
let," "white  mullet,"  "sucking  mullet,"  etc. 

Mummichog  (Pcedliidse) . — These  fish  are  found  in  the  brackish 
waters  along  the  Atlantic,  Pacific,  and  Gulf  coasts,  near  the  mouths 
of  rivers,  and  in  many  of  the  fresh-water  streams  and  lakes.  Along 
the  eastern  coast  they  are  known  as  "mayfish,"  "killifish,"  and 

fundalus;"  on  the  Gulf  as  "sac-^-lait;"  and  in  the  interior  as 
"minnows."  They  are  all  small  fish,  rarely  exceeding  4  inches  in 
length.  They  are  not  commonly  used  for  food,  but  are  of  much 
importance  as  food  for  larger  fish  and  for  bait. 

MusKALLUNGE  (Esox  TTiasquiijpngy) . — A  rare  food  fish  found  in  the 
Great  Lakes  and  Northwest,  sometimes  appearing  in  the  Ohio.  The 
average  length  is  about  6  feet;  average  weight,  40  pounds.  It  is 
caught  in  pound  nets,  with  hook  and  line,  and  by  trawling.  Another 
species  (jB.  ohiensu)  is  abundant  in  Chautauqua  Lake. 

Mussel  (Mytilus  edulis). — A  black,  thin-shelled,  salt-water mol- 
lusk,  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  as  far  south  as  North  Carolina  and 
on  the  Pacific  coast  to  Monterey.  They  are  not  used  extensively 
for  food,  but  in  New  York  they  are  pickled  and  sold  to  a  local  trade. 
The  shells  are  used  as  a  cultch  for  young  oysters,  for  paint  holders, 
and  for  ornaments.     Large  quantities  of  another  genus  ( Modiola)  are 


APPENDIX. 


313 


sold  to  farmers  along  the  New  Jersey  and  Long  Island  coasts  for 
fertilizer  trade.  The  fresh-wat«r  mussels  (  Unionidx)  are  of  much 
value  as  food  for  mammals  and  birds.  The  shells  are  used  in  mak- 
ing pearl  buttons. 

Mutton-fish  {Zoarces  anguillaris). — A  food  fish  found  on  the  At- 
lantic coast  from  Delaware  to  Labrador.  It  is  also  called  the  "eel- 
pout,"  "mother-of-eels,"  "congo  eel,"  "ling,"  and  "lamper  eel." 
It  reaches  a  length  of  about  20  inches  and  a  weight  of  3  pounds. 
The  name  is  aLso  given  to  the  snapper  {Lutianu3  analis)  of  Florida. 

Namaycush. — See  Lake  trout. 

Nanninose. — See  Clam. 

Narwhal  (itonodon  monoceros). — A  dolphin  found  plong  the 
northern  coast  of  Alaska  and  in  the  Arctic  Ocean ;  also  known  as  the 
"unicorn."  It  is  10  to  14  feet  long,  and  bears  a  tusk  9  feet  long. 
It  is  captured  for  its  tusks,  oil,  and  flesh. 

Norway  haddock. — See  Rosefish. 

Octopus. — -See  Cuttle-fish. 

Oldwife. — -See  Menhaden. 

Oswego  bass. — See  Black  bass. 

Otter  [MiLstelidx). — The  fresh-water  otter  (Lutra  canadensis)  is 
widely  distributed  over  the  United  States.  The  sea-otter  (Enhy- 
dris  marina),  highly  prized  for  its  skin,  is  found  in  the  North  Pa- 
cific.    Both  are  rare. 

Oyster  (Ostrea  virginica). — The  most  important  bivalve  found  on 
the  coast.  There  are  two  classes,  "native"  and  "plants."  The 
former  are  found  on  the  entire  coast;  the  latter  in  localities  where 
the  cultivation  of  the  oyster  is  particularly  profitable.  Oysters  are 
obtained  by  dredging,  raking,  and  longing,  and  are  very  extensively 
used  in  the  canning  industry.  The  shells  are  used  in  manufacturing 
lime  and  cement  and  for  building  highways.  Native  oysters  will 
open  about  1  gallon  to  the  bushel;  plants  do  somewhat  better. 
Oysters  are  graded  as  "extras,"  "boxes,"  "culls,"  and  "cullin- 
teens,"  according  to  age,  the  "cullinteens"  being  the  youngest. 

Paddle-fish  (Polyodon  spathula). — A  ganoid  fish,  allied  to  the 
sturgeon,  found  in  all  the  larger  streams  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
It  reaches  a  length  of  3  or  4  feet.  It  is  a  poor  food  fish,  but  the  roe 
is  extensively  used  for  caviar.  Local  names  are  "spoonbill," 
"duckbill  cat,"  and  "shovelfish." 

Pearl  oyster. — An  oyster  found  on  the  California  coast  and  in 
the  Gulf  of  California.  The  shells  are  used  in  manufacturing 
various  useful  and  beautiful  articles. 

Perch  {Perca  flavescens). — This  fish,  the  true  perch,  is  found 
throughout  the  Great  Lakes  region  and  the  rivers  of  New  England 
and  the  states  east  of  the  AUeghenies  as  far  south  as  Georgia. 
"Yellow  perch"  and  "ringed  perch"  are  names  in  common  use; 
"striped  perch"  is  used  at  Lake  Vincent.  Its  usual  length  is 
about  1  foot  and  its  weight  generally  less  than  2  pounds.  It  is  of 
moderate  value  as  a  food  fish,  and  is  caught  with  hook  and  line  and 
in  pound  nets  and  gill  nets. 

The  name  "perch"  is  also  given  to  the  large-mouth  black  bass 
(Microptertis  salmoidts)  and  to  the  small-mouth  black  bass  {M. 
dolomieu)  in  the  Southern  states;  to  the  chogset  {Taulogolabras 
adspersus)  in  localities  in  Massachusetts;  to  the  fresh-water  drum 
{Aplodinoius  grunniens)  in  the  Ohio  Riyer;  and  to  the  surf-fishea 
(Embiotocidjje)  on  the  Pacific  coast.  "Black  perch"  is  applied  to 
the  triple-tail  {Loboles  surinamensis)  in  South  Carolina,  and  to  the 
blue  surf-fish  (Embioioca  jacksoni)  on  tlie  Pacific  coast.  "Chin- 
quapin perch  "  is  applied  to  the  crappie  (Pomoxis  annularis)  in  the 
lower  Mississippi;  "gray  perch"  to  the  fresh-water  drum  {Aplodi- 
notus  grunniens)  in  the  Ohio  River;  "  log  perch  "  to  a  darter  (Percina 
caprodes);  "pike perch  "  to  the  wall-eyed  pike  (Stizostedion  vitreum); 
"red  perch  "  to  the  rosefish  (Sebastes  marinus)  on  the  coast  of  Maine; 
"ringed  perch"  to  the  perch  (Perca  flavescens);  "river  perch"  to  a 
Burf-fish  {Tlysleroearpus  trashi)  of  CaUfomia;  "Sacramento  perch" 
to  a  sunfiah  {Ardiopliles  interruptus)  of  the  Sacramento  and  San 
Joaquin  Rivers;  "silver  perch"  to  the  yellowtail  {Bairdiella  chry- 
sura)  in  New  Jersey;  "striped  perch  "  to  the  perch  (Perca  flavescens) 


at  Lake  Vincent;  "white  perch  "  to  a  surf-fish  (Phanerodon/urcatus) 
on  the  California  coast;  to  a  bass  ( Morone  americana)  on  the  Atlantic 
coast;  to  the  fresh-water  drum  (Aplodinotus  grunniens)  in  the  Ohio 
River;  and  "yellow  perch"  to  the  perch  (Perca  flavescens). 

Periwinkle. — A  common  name  for  the  sea  snail  (Littorina)  and 
whelk  (Fulga),  which  al-e  used  for  bait  and  sometimes  for  food  on 
the  north  Atlantic  coast.  It  also  constitutes  a  kirge  portion  of  the 
food  supply  of  various  fishes. 

Pickerel  (Esox  reliculatus). — A  food  fish  found  in  streams  and 
ponds  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Maine  to  Alabama.  In  the 
Southern  states  it  is  usually  called  "jack."  It  reaches  a  weight  of 
7  or  8  pounds;  averages  about  half  as  much. 

The  name  "pickerel"  is  also  applied  to  the  true  pike  (Esox 
lu/Aus)  in  the  upper  lakes;  to  the  "wall-eyed  pike"  (Stizostedion 
vitreum)  in  Lake  Erie  and  Saginaw  Bay;  and  to  the  sauger  (Stizos- 
tedion canadense).  The  wall-eyed  pike  (S.  vitreum)  ia  also  called 
"yellow  pickerel"  about  Lake  Erie.  The  brook  pickerels  (E. 
americanus  and  E.  vermieulatus)  are  found,  respectively,  along  the 
Atlantic  coast  and  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  "Salt  pickerel"  and 
"medium  pickerel"  are  trade  names. 

PiGFiSH. — A  name  applied  to  the  genus  Orihoprislis  of  the  family 
of  grunts,  found  on  the  southern  coast. 

Pike  (Esox  Indus). — A  food  fish  found  in  the  Great  Lakes  r^on; 
also  called  "pickerel."  It  is  distinguished  from  allied  species  by  its 
color,  which  is  uniform  brown,  green,  or  black,  with  numerous  elon- 
gate white  blotches  upon  the  sides.  It  averages  4  to  8  pounds  in 
weight.  They  are  caught  with  hook  and  line  and  in  gill  nets  and 
pound  nets.  The  name  "pike"  is  also  applied  to  the  wall-eyed 
pike  or  pike  perch  (Stizostedion  vitreum)  in  the  upper  lakes,  and  to 
the  Sacramento  jjike  (Ptychocheilus  oregonensis)  in  the  Columbia  and 
Sacramento  Rivers.  "Gray  pike,"  "sand  pike,"  "ground  pike," 
etc.,  are  names  for  the  sauger  (Stizostedion  canadense). 

Pike  perches  (Stizostedion  vitreum  and  5.  canadense). — The 
"wall-eyed  pike"  (S.  vitreum)  otherwise  known  as  "glass-eye," 
' '  pike  perch, ' ' ' '  yellow  pike, "  "  dory , ' '  and  "blue  pike  "  on  the  Great 
Lakes;  as  "salmon,"  "jack,"  "okow,"  "blowfish,"  and  "green 
pike  "  in  other  localities.  It  is  found  in  the  large  streams  and  ponds 
east  of  the  Missouri;  it  is  an  excellent  food  fish  and  may  reach  a 
weight  of  20  pounds.  The  sauger  or  sand-perch  (S.  canadense)  is 
smaller  and  less  important  as  a  food  fish.  It  is  especially  abundant 
in  the  Great  Lakes,  but  extends  to  Montana,  Tennessee,  and 
Arkansas. 

Pilot-fish  (Naucrates  ductor). — A  pelagic  fish  of  no  economic 
importance,  and  seldom  taken  on  our  coast.  It  is  about  12  inches 
long,  and  is  generally  found  in  the  company  of  ships  and  sharks. 

Pinfisii. — See  Sailor's  choice. 

Plaice. — A  flat  fish  found  on  both  coasts  of  America.  The  win- 
ter flounder  (Pseudopleuronectes  americanus)  is  a  common  food  fish 
of  New  England.  Other  species  are  known  as  "rusty-dab,"  "eel- 
back  flounder,"  "craig-fluke,"  "pole-flounder,"  "flukes"  on  the 
Atlantic  coast;  as  "great  starry  flounder,"  "slippery  sole,"  etc., 
on  the  Pacific  coast.  5ee  Flounder.  The  true  plaice  (Pleuronectes 
piatessa)  is  a  Eiiropean  species  not  found  in  American  waters. 

Poqy. — A  name  applied  to  the  menhaden  (Brevoorlia)  tyrannus 
north  of  Cape  Cod,  to  the  moonfish  (Chxtodipterus  faber)  and  the 
scup  (Stenotomus  chrysops)  along  the  southern  coast,  and  to  the 
surf-fish  (Damalichthys  argyrosomus)  on  the  coast  of  Oregon. 

Pollack  (Pollachius  virem). — A  food  fish  of  importance,  found 
mainly  off  the  New  England  coast.  It  sometimes  occurs  as  far  south 
as  Virginia.  The  average  weight  is  about  10  pounds.  They  are 
caught  with  seines,  nets,  and  hand  lines.  For  food  they  are  sold 
fresh,  salted,  and  dried.  The  sounds  are  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  glue,  the  livers  are  sold  in  large  quantities  for  the  manufacture  of 
oil,  and  the  tongues  are  cut  out  and  sold  fresh. 

PoMPANO,  or  Pampano  (Trachinotus  carolinus). — An  excellent 
food  fish,  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  the  Gulf, 
being  very  common  on  the  Florida  coasts.    They  average  8  to  10 


314 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


iBches  in  length  and  1  to  2  pounds  in  weight.  Other  species  found 
on  our  eastern  coast  are  the  "old-wife,"  or  "gaff-topsail  pompano;" 
the  "round  pompano,"  or  "Indian  River  permit;"  the  "permit" 
or  "great  pompano, "  which  is  frequently  not  distinguished  from  the 
"common  pompano"  ( T.  carolinus)  by  the  fishermen.  The  poppy- 
fish  {Palometa  simillhna)  is  miscalled  the  "California  pompano." 
It  is  a  delicate  food  fish. 

PoRGEE,  or  PoRGY. — A  name  given  to  the  surf-fish  {Damalichthys 
argyrosormis)  in  Oregon  and  Washington;  to  the  moonfish  {Chxtodip- 
terusfaber)  at  Beaufort,  N.  C;  to  the  scup  (Stenoiovius  chrysops)  in 
New  York  and  along  the  southern  coast;  to  the  sailor's  choice  [Lago- 
don  rhomboides)  in  the  St.  Johns  River  and  at  Cedar  Keys;  and  to 
several  sparoids  of  the  Gulf. 

Pork-fish  (Anisotremits  virginicus) . — See  Grunt. 

Porpoise  {Phocasna  com-munis). — A  cetacean  found  on  the  north 
Atlantic  and  north  Pacific  coasts,  ascending  rivers.  It  is  known  as 
"harbor  porpoise,"  "herring-hog,"  "puffer,"  "snuffer,"  "snufling 
pig,"  etc.  It  reaches  a  length  of  4  or  5  feet.  They  are  captured  in 
pounds,  seines,  and  mackerel  gill  nets.  They  are  not  used  for  food, 
but  an  oil  is  obtained  from  their  jaws  which  is  much  used  for  me- 
chanical purposes.  The  skin  is  tanned  and  made  into  leather.  The 
name  is  also  applied  rather  indiscriminately  to  many  dolphins. 

Prawn. — See  Shrimp. 

Pumpkin-seed. — A  name  applied  to  the  sunfish  {Eupomotis  gib- 
bosus)  of  the  brooks  of  New  York  and  New  England,  and  to  the 
butterfish  {Poronotus  triacanthus)  in  Connecticut. 

QuAHAUG  (  Venus  mercenaria). — An  edible  clam,  found  very  abun- 
dantly from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  It  is  also  called  "hard  clam," 
"round  clam,"  "bull-nose,"  "little  neck,"  etc.  They  are  gathered 
by  raking. 

Queen-fish  {Seriphus  polilus). — A  small  food  fish  of  excellent 
quality  found  on  the  Pacific  coast  south  of  Tomales  Bay.  It  is  also 
called  "kingfish."     The  average  weight  is  about  half  a  pound. 

Quill-back. — A  sucker  (Idiobus  velifer)  found  abundantly  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley. 

QuiNNAT  [Onc-orhynchus  tschawylscha). — The  species  of  the  salmon 
family  mostly  used  for  canning.  It  is  found  on  the  Pacific  coast 
from  Monterey  northward.  It  is  also  called  "chinook  salmon," 
"king  salmon,"  "Columbia  River  salmon,"  "salmon,"  etc.  The 
average  weight  is  16  to  22  pounds. 

Racer. — A  shad  that  has  spawned  and  is  lean  and  worthless. 

Ray  (Raise) . — A  general  name  given  to  a  large  group  of  fishes  found 
on  all  our  coasts.  They  are  also  called  "skates,"  "torpedoes," 
"devil-fishes,"  etc.  They  sometimes  attain  an  enormous  size, 
measuring  3  feet  across  the  back  and  10  feet  in  length.  They  are 
caught  on  trawls  and  ia  seines,  and  some  are  used  for  food;  oil  is 
obtained  from  the  livers  of  some,  and  the  skin  is  sometimes  manufac- 
tured into  leather  called  "shagreen." 

Razor-shell  (Ensis  direcluB). — A  long,  slender  clam  which  is  a 
common  inhabitant  of  sand  bars  and  sand  flats  in  New  England 
where  the  water  is  pure.  It  is  also  called  "razor-fish,"  "razor- 
clam,"  "  knife-handle,"  etc.  It  is  sometimes  used  for  food,  and  its 
shells  are  sold  for  ornaments.  The  California  razor-shell  is  a  differ- 
ent species  {Solen  dcarius). 

Red  drum. — The  redfish  (Seisenops  ocellatus).  Also  known  as 
"channel-bass." 

Red-eye. — -See  Rock  bass  anrf  Warmouth. 

Redpin. — A  name  applied  to  the  common  shiner  (Notropis  cor- 
nutus). 

Redfish  (Sciienops  ocellatus). — 1.  A  much-esteemed  food  fish 
found  on  the  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  the  Rio  Grande.  It  is  com- 
monly known  as  the  "red  drum."  In  Chesapeake  Bay  and  south 
to  Cape  Hatteras  it  is  called  the  "drum; "  in  the  Carolinas,  Florida, 
and  the  Gulf,  "bass,"  "spotted  bass,"  "red  bass,"  "sea  bass," 
"reef  bass,"  and  "channel  bass;"  in  Florida  and  the  Gulf  states, 
"redfish"  and  "red  horse;"  and  at  various  places,  "spot."  Itgrows 
to  a  length  of  5  feet  or  more  and  a  weight  of  75  pounds;  average 
weight,  10  pounds.  They  are  taken  with  spears,  gill  nets,  and 
bottom  lines. 


2.  The  redfish  of  California  (Pimelometopon  pulcher)  is  found  from 
Point  Conception  to  Cerros  Island.  It  is  also  called  "  fat-head  "  and 
"sheepshead."  It  reaches  a  weight  of  12  to  15  pounds,  but  is  not  a 
valuable  food  fish. 

3.  The  blueback  salmon  (Oncorhynchus  nerka)  is  also  called  "red- 
fish "  in  the  upper  Columbia  and  in  Alaska. 

4.  The  redfish  (Sebastodes  melanops).  A  food  fish  found  from 
southeastern  Alaska  to  California.  It  is  also  known  as  "red  cod," 
"red  rockfish,"  etc.     See  Rockfish. 

Red  horse. — 1.  A  name  applied  to  several  species  of  suckers 
found  in  the  waters  of  the  West  and  South.  They  are  all  poor  food 
fishes. 

2.  The  redfish  (Scisenops  ocellatus)  of  Florida  and  the  Gulf. 

Red  snapper  (Liitianus  aya). — A  valuable  food  fish  found  off  the 
Florida  coast  and  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  attains  a  weight  of  40 
pounds,  but  averages  only  about  half  as  much.  It  is  caught  with 
hand  lines,  and  is  sold  fresh. 

Roach  (Semotilus  corporalis). — The  largest  chub  found  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  It  is  abundant  in  the  streams  of  the  New  Eng- 
land and  Middle  states  east  of  the  Alleghenies.  Also  called  "fall- 
fish,"  "chub,"  "dace,"  etc.  It  reaches  a  length  of  18  inches,  but  is 
of  no  special  importance  as  a  food  fish.  A  local  name  for  the  spot 
(Leiostomus  xanthurus)  in  the  Chesapeake  region. 

Robin. — A  name  applied  to  the  sailor's  choice  (Lagodoji  rhom^ 
boides)  about  Cape  Hatteras. 

Rock. — See  Striped  bass. 

Rock  bass  (Ambloplitesrupestris). — A  small  food  fish  every  where 
abundant  in  lakes,  ponds,  and  larger  streams  throughout  the  Great 
Lakes  region  and  the  Mississippi  Valley.  It  is  called  "rock  bass" 
in  the  Lake  region  and  "goggle-eye"  and  "red-eye"  farther  south. 
It  seldom  exceeds  IJ  pounds  in  weight.  The  name  is  also  given  to 
the  sea  bass  {Centra pistes  striatus)  at  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  and  to 
several  other  serranoid  fishes  of  the  Pacific  coast. 

Rock  cod. — See  Rockfish. 

Rockfish  {Scorpxnidse). — These  fish  are  caught  in  enormous 
quantities  on  the  Pacific  coast,  especially  from  Santa  Barbara  to 
San  Francisco.  There  are  a  large  number  of  species,  knov.-n  to  the 
fishermen  as  " priest  fish, "  "rock  cod,"  and  "rockfish,"  with  many 
qualifying  prefixes,  as  "black,"  "black-banded,"  "brown," 
"grass,"  "green,"  "orange,"  "red,"  "yellow,"  "yellow-backed," 
"yellowtail,"  etc.;  also  called  "garrupa,"  "grouper,"  "scorpene," 
"sculpin,"  "scorpion,"  "tree-fiBh,"  "flyfish,"  "corsair,"  "Spanish 
flag,"  "reina,"  "blackbass,"  "jack,"  "tomcod,"  "boci'accio,"etc. 
They  average  15  inches  in  length  and  2  or  3  pounds  in  weight,  but 
some  reach  a  length  of  3  feet  and  a  weight  of  12  pounds.  They  are 
caught  in  seines  and  with  hook  and  line.  The  name  is  also  applied 
to  the  striped  bass  (Roccus  lineatus)  along  the  Atlantic  coast;  to  the 
groupers  {Epinephelus)  about  Key  West  and  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico; 
to  the  log  perch  (Percina  caprodes). 

Rock  trout  (Hexagrammos) . — A  group  of  fishes  of  considerable 
importance  on  the  Pacific  coast.  They  are  the  true  greenlings. 
The  different  species  are  known  as  "sea  trout,"  "starling,"  "bore- 
gata,"  "bodieron,"  "red  rock  trout,"  etc.  The  size  varies  greatly, 
the  average  being  18  inches  long  and  2J  pounds  in  weight. 

Roncador  (Roncador  stearnsi). — A  food  fish  of  excellent  quality, 
found  from  Santa  Barbara  southward;  also  called  "croaker."  It 
reaches  a  length  of  over  2  feet  and  a  weight  of  6  to  8  pounds.  Re- 
lated species  are  known  as  "red  roncador,"  "little  roncador," 
"yellow-finned  roncador,"  etc. 

Rosefish  (Sebastes  marinus). — A  brilliantly  colored  fish  found  off 
the  north  Atlantic  coast  as  far  south  as  New  York.  It  is  also  called 
"red  perch,"  "redfish,"  "Norway  haddock,"  "snapper,"  "hem- 
durgan,"  "bream,"  etc.  The  average  length  is  about  12  inches; 
average  weight,  \h  pounds.     It  is  caught  on  trawl  lines. 

Round  robin  {Decapterus  punclatus). — A  food  fish  found  along 
the  coast  from  the  Gulf  to  Woods  Hole.  It  is  al.so  called  "cigar- 
fish  "  and  "scad."     It  reaches  a  length  of  12  inches. 

Rudder-fish  {Kyphosus  seclatrix). — h.  small  fish  abundant  about 
Key  West.  The  banded  rudder-fish  (Seriola  zonata)  is  found  from 
Cape  Cod  to  Florida. 


APPENDIX. 


816 


Runner  (Elagalis  hipinnulalus) . — A  food  fish  abundant  on  the 
western  and  southern  coasts  of  Florida.  It  is  also  called  "skipjack," 
"yellowtail,"  and  "shoemaker."     It  reaches  a  length  of  2J  feet. 

Sacramento  perch  {Archoplites  interruptvs).—A  sunfish  of  the 
Sacramento  and  an  excellent  food  fish . 

Sacramento  pike  {Ptycochelius  oregonensis  and  P.  grandia). — A 
chub  of  the  Sacramento  and  Columbia.  It  is  also  known  as  "big- 
mouth,"  "box-head,"  "yellow-belly,"  "chappaul,"  and  "squaw- 
fish."     It  reaches  a  length  of  5  feet  or  more. 

Saibling  {Salvelinus  aureolus). — The  Sunapee  trout  of  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire. 

Sailor's  choice  {Lagodon  rhomboides). — A  food  fish  found  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  south  of  Cape  Hatteras  and  in  the  Gulf.  It  is  also 
called  "robin,"  "pinfish,"  "salt-water  bream,"  "squirrel-fish," 
"porgy,"  "scup,"  "yellowtail,"  "shiner,"  "chopa spina,"  etc.  It 
averages  about  10  inches  in  length  and  6  ounces  in  weight,  and  is 
caught  with  hook  and  line  and  in  cast  nets  and  seines  The  name 
is  also  applied  to  the  pigfish  (Orthopristis  chrysoplerus)  in  South 
Carolina. 

Salmon  (Salmo  salar). — This  is  the  salmon  of  the  Atlantic  coast. 
It  is  found  along  the  coast  of  the  New  England  states.  At  differ- 
ent ages  the  fish  are  known  as  "parrs,"  "smolts,"  "grilse," 
"kelts,"  and  "salmon."  The  adults  weigh  from  15  to  40  pounds. 
They  are  caught  with  nets,  seines,  and  hand  lines,  and  by  spearing. 
The  landlocked  salmon,  or  fresh-water  salmon,  or  Sebago  salmon 
{S.  sebago),  is  found  in  fresh  waters,  generally  landlocked. 

The  blueback  salmon  {Oncorhynchus  nerha)  is  found  on  the  Pacific 
coast  from  the  Columbia  River  northward.  The  California  salmon, 
or  chinook  salmon,  or  quinnat  (0.  tschawytscha),  is  found  from 
Monterey  to  Alaska.  The  dog  salmon  (0.  keta)  ranges  from  the  Sac- 
ramento River  to  Bering  Strait.  The  humpbacked  salmon,  or 
lost  salmon  (0.  gorbuscha),  ranges  from  the  Sacramento  River  to 
Alaska.  The  silver  salmon,  or  white  salmon  (0.  hisutch),  is  found  in 
all  rivers  from  the  Sacramento  River  to  Bering  Strait. 

The  California  yellowtail  {Seriola  dorsalis)  is  also  known  as  the 
"white  salmon"  on  the  Pacific  coast,  as  is  also  the  chub  {Ptychoch- 
eilus  lucius)  ol  the  Colorado  River.  The  name  "kelp  salmon"  is 
applied  to  the  cabrilla  (Paralabrax  chthratiis)  a,t  Monterey;  "lake 
salmon,"  to  the  lake  trout  {Cristivomer  namaycush)  in  the  lakes  of 
northern  New  York;  and  "salmon"  and  "jack  salmon,"  to  the 
"wall-eyed  pike  "  (Stizostedion  vitreum)  in  the  streams  of  the  South. 
See  Trout. 

Sardine. — The  California  sardine  (Sardinia  coerulea).  The  name 
is  erroneously  applied  to  various  other  small  fishes  of  the  herring 
family,  and  is  also  given  to  canned  herring  prepared  after  the  man- 
ner of  the  French  sardines. 

Sauger  {Stizostedion  canadense). — This  fish  is  found  in  the  Great 
Lakes  region,  and  in  the  upper  Mississippi,  upper  Missouri,  and  Ohio 
Rivers.  It  is  known  locally  as  the  "gray  pike,"  "sand  pike," 
"ground  pike,"  "pickering,"  "pickerel,"  "horsefish,"  etc.  It  isa 
small  fish,  not  exceeding  18  inches  in  length.    See  Pike  perches. 

ScALLOP(Pect«n  irradians). — An  edible  bivalve  found  off  the  coasts 
of  Long  Island,  Rhode  Island,  and  southern  Massachusetts  in  pay- 
ing quantities;  less  numerous  South.  It  is  obtained  by  dredging 
and  raking.  The  powerful  central  muscle  by  which  the  animal 
opens  and  closes  its  shell  forms  the  edible  portion.  The  shells  are 
of  commercial  value.     The  rims  or  refuse  are  used  for  fertilizers. 

ScoLPiN  (Cottidx). — Several  species  of  sculpiu  are  found  on  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  and  in  inland  waters,  but  none  are  of 
particular  value  as  food  fish.  Those  on  the  Atlantic  are  called 
"grubby,"  "puffing-grubby,"  "daddy  sculpin,"  "bull-head," 
"sea-robin,"  "sea  toad,"  "pigfish,"  "sea-raven,"  etc.;  thoseon  the 
Pacific,  "drummer,"  "salpa,"  "johnny,"  "biggy-head,"  "cabe- 
zon, "  etc. ;  and  those  in  the  lakes  and  streams  of  the  Northern  states, 
"bull-heads,"  "miller's  thumb,"  "goblins,"  "blobs,"  "muffle- 
jaws,"  etc.     Most  of  the  species  are  of  small  size. 

Scup  (Stenotomus  chrysops). — This  fish  is  found  along  the  Atlantic 
coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  South  Carolina;  abundant  North.     Common 


local  names  are  "scuppaug,"  "paugy,"  "porgy,"  "pogy,"  "fair 
maid,"  etc.  They  are  caught  in  pounds  and  traps  and  with  hook 
and  line. 

Sea  bass  (Centropristes  strialus). — A  food  fish  found  from  Vine- 
yard Sound  to  the  eastern  part  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  is  known 
south  of  Cape  Hatteras  as  the  "blackfish;"  in  the  Middle  states  aa 
"black  Will,"  "black  Harry,"  and  "hannahUls;"  about  New  Bed- 
ford and  Newport  as  "bluefish;"  and  at  New  Bedford  also  as  "rock 
bass."  The  average  length  in  New  England  is  about  15  inches; 
average  weight,  IJ  pounds.  In  the  South  they  are  much  smaller, 
averaging  about  three-fourths  of  a  pound  in  weight.  They  are 
caught  with  hand  lines  and  in  pounds  and  traps.  The  white  sea- 
bass  {Cynoscion  nobilis)  is  found  on  the  Pacific  coast  from  Cape 
Mendocino  to  San  Diego.  It  is  an  important  food  fish,  and  averages 
15  pounds  in  weight.  The  redfish  {Sciomops  ocellata)  is  called  "sea 
bass  "  in  the  Carolinas,  Florida,  and  the  Gulf. 

Sea-elephant  (Mirounga  angusliTostris) . — A  marine  mammal, 
12  to  14  feet  long,  found  on  the  Pacific  coast.  The  oil  is  of  com- 
mercial value,  and  the  tongues  are  sometimes  salted  and  used  for  food. 

Sea  herring. — The  common  herring  {Clupea  harengus)  of  the 
north  Atlantic. 

Sea-horse  {Hippocampus  hudsonius  and  H.  ingens). — A  curious 
fish  found  on  the  eastern  coast  south  of  Cape  Cod  and  on  the  Pacific 
coast.     Few  specimens  are  taken,  and  they  are  sold  for  curiosities. 

Seal  {Pinnipedia) . — The  seal  tribe  embraces  the  walrus,  eared 
seals,  and  earless  seals.  They  are  found  in  the  northern  part  of  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans  and  in  the  Arctic  Ocean.  They  are  cap- 
tured for  their  oil,  skins,  and  flesh.  The  fur-seal  fishery  is  the  most 
important.    See  Fur  seal. 

Sea-lion  {Eumetopias  jubata) . — A  seal  found  on  the  Pacific  coast 
from  the  Farallone  Islands  to  the  Pribilof  Islands.  The  males  are 
about  15  feet  long,  and  weigh  about  1,000  pounds;  the  females  are 
about  half  as  large  as  the  males.  They  are  killed  with  guns  and 
lances,  and  are  used  by  the  natives  for  food,  oil,  leather,  etc.  The 
California  sea-lion  {Zalophus  californianus)  is  found  on  the  Cali- 
fornia coast  from  San  Diego  to  San  Francisco. 

Sea  robin  {Prionotus  carolinus). — This  fish  is  found  along  the 
eastern  coast  south  of  Cape  Cod.  They  are  al*  called  "gurnards," 
' '  wing-fish, ' '  ' '  sea  bat, ' '  etc.  They  attain  a  length  of  15  to  18  inches 
and  a  weight  of  about  a  pound.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the 
toadfish  {Opsanus  tau)  in  the  Gulf. 

Sea  shad. — Small  immature  shad  that  feed  about  bays  and  the 
mouths  of  rivers  during  the  summer  after  the  ascent  of  the  main 
body  of  breeders. 

Sea  snails  {Gasteropoda). — An  asymmetrical  mollusk  bearing  a 
single  shell.  They  are  found  on  all  our  coasts,  and  are  known  as 
"periwinkles,"  "whelks,"  "wilks,"  "winkles,"  "wrinkles," 
"conchs,"  "drills,"  "borers,"  "helmet-shells,"  "abalones," 
"ormer-shells,"  "sea-ears,"  "limpets,"  "wood-lice,"  "lobster 
tails,"  "sea-bugs,"  etc.  They  are  not  extensively  used  for  food  in 
this  country,  but  are  used  for  bait  in  numerous  fisheries. 

Sea  trout. — A  name  given  to  the  white  sea-bass  {Cynoscion 
nobilis)  on  the  Pacific  coast;  to  the  white  trout  {Cynoscion  nothus) 
along  the  southern  coast;  to  the  spotted  rock  trout  or  greenling 
{Hezagrammos  decagrammus)  south  of  San  Francisco;  and  to  the 
squeteague  {Cynoscion  regalis)  on  the  Atlantic  coast.  It  is  also  a 
trade  name  for  sea  herring. 

Seekonks. — Oysters  (mainly  seed)  growing  in  the  Seekonk  River, 
Rhode  Island. 

Sergeant-fish. — 5ee  Cobia. 

Shad  {Alosa  sapidissima). — A  very  important  food  fish  found  on 
all  the  coasts  and  in  some  inland  waters;  the  great  fisheries  are  in  the 
rivers  of  the  Atlantic  slope.  It  is  called  "white  shad,"  in  distinc- 
tion from  other  "shad."  The  average  weight  is  about  4  pounds; 
average  length  about  2  feet.  It  is  caught  in  nets,  seines,  and  weirs, 
and  is  sold  fresh,  cured,  and  pickled. 

The  names  "mud  shad,"  "gizzard  shad,"  "winter  shad,"  "stink 
shad,"  "hickory  shad,"  and  "  white-eyed  shad  "  apply  to  a  different 


316 


FISHERIES  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


species  {Dorosoma  cepedianum).  The  menhaden  is  called  "hard- 
head shad  "  about  Cape  Ann,  "bug  Bhad  "  in  Virginia,  and  "yellow- 
tail  shad"  from  North  Carolina  to  Florida. 

Sharks  (Notidani). — Numerous  species  of  sharks  are  found  on  the 
Atlantic  and  the  Pacific  coasts.  They  are  sometimes  called  "dog- 
fish," "angel-fish,"  "porbeagle,"  "swingle-tail,"  "bonnet-head," 
"hammer-head,"  etc.  They  are  captured  with  hook  and  line  and 
with  harpoons;  sometimes  they  are  taken  in  nets  set  for  other  fish. 
Sharks  are  valuable  for  their  livers,  from  which  oil  is  extracted; 
their  bodies  are  used  mainly  for  fertilizing  purposes. 

Sheepshead  {Arckosargvs  probatocephalus) . — A  choice  food  fish 
caught  off  the  eastern  coast  of  the  United  States  from  Cape  Cod  to 
Texas.  The  weight  varies  from  2  to  12  pounds,  according  to  locality; 
the  average  size  is  about  4  pounds.  They  are  caught  with  hand  lines, 
seines,  and  nets,  and  by  spearing.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the 
butter-fish  (Poronotus  iriacanthus)  about  Cape  Cod,  to  the  fresh- 
water drum  {Aplodinotus  grunniens)  in  the  Great  Lakes,  and  to  the 
redfish  (Pimelometopon  pulcher)  south  of  Point  Conception,  Cali- 
fornia. 

Sheepswool. — The  highest  grade  of  Florida  commercial  sponges. 

Shiner. — A  common  name  applied  to  the  redfin  (Nolropis  cornu- 
tus)  from  New  England  to  Kansas  and  Alabama;  to  the  menhaden 
(Brevoortia  tyrannus)  in  southern  Florida;  to  some  of  the  surf -fishes 
(Embwiocidx)  on  the  Pacific  coast;  and  to  the  sailor's  choice  (Lago- 
don  rhomboides)  about  Cedar  Keys.  The  blunt-nosed  shiner  {Sehne 
vomer)  is  so  called  about  New  York  and  Narragansett  Bay.  The 
golden  shiner  {Ahramis  ckrysoleucus)  is  found  in  the  rivers  east  of 
the  Great  Plains. 

Shrimp. — A  decapod  crustacean  found  in  large  numbers  on  all 
our  coasts  and  in  many  inland  waters.  The  usual  length  is  about  2 
inches,  but  some  attain  a  larger  size.  They  are  caught  in  dip  nets, 
purse  nets,  etc.,  and  are  used  for  food  and  bait.  Prawns  are  gener- 
ally larger  than  shrimps,  often  attaining  a  length  of  7  inches. 

SiLVERHSH. — See  Tarpon. 

Silver  hake  (Jferluccius  bilinearis). — This  fish  is  found  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  north  of  Virginia.  It  is  also  called  "New  England 
whiting."  The  average  length  is  1  foot.  It  is  caught  in  weirs,  nets, 
and  with  hand  lines,  and  is  used  for  food  and  bait. 

SiLVERSiDES  {Atherinidx). — A  small  food  fish,  found  along  the 
Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts.  Different  species  are  known  as  "sand 
smelt,"  "green  smelt,"  "anchovy,"  "merit-fish,"  "sardine," 
"California  smelt,"  "little  smelt,"  "brit,"  etc.  They  range  from 
7  to  18  inches  in  length  and  are  caught  in  seines. 

Sirenians. — Large  marine  mammals,  more  or  less  fishlike  in  form, 
Buch  as  manatees,  sea-cows,  etc. ;  found  in  warm  seas. 

SiscowET. — See  Lake  trout. 

Skate. — See  Ray. 

Skilfish  (Anophpoma  fimbria). — A  common  food  fish  from  Una- 
laska  to  Monterey.  It  is  also  known  as  "beshow,"  "coalfish,"  and 
"black  cod." 

Skipjack. — A  local  name  applied  to  the  skipper  {Scombresox 
saurus)  along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts;  to  the  inland  alewife 
(Porrwlobus-  dirysochloris)  in  the  Mississippi  Valley  from  the  Great 
Lakes  to  the  Gulf;  to  the  bluefish  {Pomalomm  saltatrix)  south  'of 
Cape  Hatteras;  to  the  bonito  (Sarda  chilensis)  on  the  Pacific  coast; 
to  the  runner  (Elagatis  bipinnulatiis)  about  Key  West;  to  the  butter- 
fish  {Poronotus  triacanthus)  about  Cape  Cod;  to  the  cutlass-fish 
{THAvuTxis  lepturus);  to  the  jurel  {Caranx  chrysos)  along  the  east 
Florida  coast;  and  to  the  leather  jacket  {Oligoplites  saurus)  on  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

Skip  mackerel. — A  name  applied  to  the  bluefish  about  New  York. 

Smelt  {Osmerus  mordax). — A  very  choice  food  fish  found  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  from  Virginia  to  the  St.  Lawrence  and  landlocked  in 
many  New  England  lakes.  Also  called  "American  smelt"  and 
"frostfish."  When  sent  to  market  unfrozen  they  are  known  as 
"green  "  smelts.  The  average  length  is  8  to  10  inches.  The  Pacific 
smelt  (0.  thaleichthys)  is  found  from  San  Francisco  to  Alaska.  The 
surf  smelt  ( Mesopv^  pretiosus)  is  found  from  Monterey  to  Alaska. 


The  eulachon  or  candleflsh  ( Thaleichthys  pacifix^us)  is  an  excellent 
food  fish  found  from  the  Columbia  River  to  Skagway,  where  it  is 
called  "smelt."  Some  of  the  silversides  (Aiherinidx)  are  wrongly 
called  "smelts;"  this  is  especially  true  of  Atherinopsis  californiensis, 
which  is  widely  known  as  "smelt,"  "blue  smelt,"  and  "California 
smelt." 

Smolt. — A  name  applied  to  an  immature  salmon  when  it  has 
become  a  uniform  bright  silvery  color. 

Snappers  (Lutianidse). — The  red  snapper  (Lutianus  aya)  is  the 
most  important  of  these  fishes.  It  is  a  large  fi^h,  bright  red  in  color, 
and  is  found  from  Long  Island  southward,  but  is  most  abundant  on 
the  coasts  of  Georgia,  Florida,  and  the  Gulf  states.  The  gray  snap- 
per or  mangrove  snapper  (L.  grisem),  also  known  in  Florida  as  "law- 
yer," is  a  most  common  species.  The  mutton  snapper  (L.  analis), 
the  dog  snapper,  or  jocu  (L.  jocu),  the  schoolmaster,  or  caji  (i. 
apodus),  the  silk  snapper  {L.  viranus),  the  lane  snapper  (i.  synagris), 
are  all  fishes  of  food  value  common  in  the  West  Indies  and  southern 
Florida. 

The  red  grouper  {Ephinephelus  morio)  is  called  "brown  snapper" 
and  "red-bellied  snapper"  in  Florida;  the  rosefish  {Sebastes  mar- 
inus)  is  called  "snapper"  on  the  North  Atlantic  coast;  the  bluefish 
{Pomatomus  saltatrix)  is  called  "snapper"  and  "blue  snapper"  on 
the  New  England  coast;  and  the  cod  that  live  near  the  shore  away 
from  the  ledges  are  called  "black  snappers." 

Sole  (Soleidas). — The  American  sole,  or  hog-choker  (Achirusfas- 
ciatus)  is  common  from  Boston  to  Galveston.     See  Flounder. 

Spadbfish. — See  Moonfish. 

Spanish  mackerel  {Scomberomorus  maculatus). — A  very  choice 
food  fish  found  on  the  Atlantic  coast  south  of  Cape  Cod  and  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  The  average  length  is  about  20 
inches;  average  weight  about  3  pounds.  In  California  the  Monterey 
Spanish  mackerel  {S.  concolor)  is  a  most  excellent  food  fish.  They 
are  caught  on  troll  lines  and  in  gill  nets  and  pound  nets. 

The  cavalla  (S.  cavalla)  is  a  West  Indian  species,  but  often  taken 
in  small  numbers  on  the  southern  New  England  coast.  It  is  also 
known  as  "kingfish."  The  name  "cero"  is  often  applied  to  the 
Spanish  mackerel. 

Speckled  trout  {Salvelinus  fontinalis). — An  excellent  food  fish 
found  in  cold  lakes  and  streams  of  the  Atlantic  watershed,  in  the 
headwaters  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  the  Great  Lakes  region.  It  is 
the  American  ' '  brook  trout. ' '  The  varieties  differ  much  in  size  and 
appearance  in  different  regions.  It  is  our  gamiest  fish,  and  is  gener- 
ally caught  with  hook  and  line. 

The  rainbow  trout  {Salmo  irideus)  of  California  and  the  Dolly 
Varden  trout  {Salvelinus  nuilma)  of  the  mountains  are  sometimes 
known  as  "speckled  trout." 

Sperm  whale  {Physetcr  macrocephalus). — One  of  the  most  valu- 
able of  the  whales;  found  in  both  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans. 
It  is  also  called  "cachelot."  The  males  reach  a  length  of  70  feet,  the 
females  much  less.  They  are  captured  for  their  oil  and  spermaceti. 
An  intestinal  substance  called  "ambergris"  is  also  very  valuable. 

Sponge. — The  sponge  of  commerce  is  found  off  the  Florida  coast. 
The  grades  generally  rank  sheepswool,  yellow,  velvet,  grass,  and 
glove;  but  different  men  in  the  business  grade  them  differently. 

Spot  {Leiostomus  xanthurus). — A  food  fish  found  along  the  coast 
from  Cape  Cod  to  Texas.  It  is  called  "goody"  in  New  Jersey, 
"roach"  in  the  Chesapeake,  "chub  "  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,"masooka" 
on  the  St.  Johns,  "chopa  blanca"  at  Pensacola,  "Lafayette",  etc. 
It  is  about  6  inches  long,  and  is  taken  with  hook  and  line  and  in  gill 
nets. 

Sprat. — 1.  A  local  New  England  name  for  the  young  alewife. 
2.    See  Alfione. 

Squeteague  {Cynoscionregalis). — An  excellent  food  fish  found  in 
abundance  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Florida.  It  is 
known  as  "drummer"  about  Cape  Cod;  "yellowfiu"  about  Buz- 
zards Bay;  "weakfish"  inNew  York  andNew  Jersey;  "bluefish"in 
Delaware  and  Virginia;  "gray  trout,"  "sun  trout,"  "shad  trout," 
"sea  tjrout,"  and  "salt-water  trout"  in  the  Middle  and  South  Atlan- 


APPENDIX. 


317 


tic  states;  and  "squeteague,"  "squit,"  "chickwit,"  etc.,  in  various 
places.  It  averages  about  2^  pounds  in  weight,  though  some  indi- 
viduals attain  a  weight  of  30  pounds.  They  are  caught  in  seines  and 
gill  nets  and  with  hook  and  line.  The  sounds  are  of  commercial 
value.  The  spotted  squeteague  ( Cynoscion  nebulosus)  is  found  from 
New  Jersey  to  Texas,  and  is  somewhat  larger  than  the  preceding. 
The  California  "bluefish"  is  Cynoscion  parvipiimis.  The  great 
"white  sea-bass"  of  California  is  Cynoscion  nobilis. 

Squid. — See  Cuttle-fish. 

Starfish. — A  star-shaped  animal  consisting  of  a  central  disk  from 
which  radiate  five  arms  or  "fingers;"  found  all  along  the  coast  and 
known  as  "five-finger,"  "sea-star,"  "star,"  etc.  It  is  of  importance 
only  on  account  of  the  great  damage  it  does  to  oyster  beds. 

Strawberry  bass. — See  Calico  bass. 

Striped  bass  (Koccus  lineatus). — One  of  the  choicest  food  fishes 
found  along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts;  it  often  ascends  rivers  for 
several  miles.  In  the  North  it  Ls  generally  called  the  "striped  bass;" 
in  the  South  "rockfish"  and  "rock."  Large  specimens  are  called 
"green-head  "  and  "squid-hound  "  by  New  Bnglanders.  The  aver- 
age length  is  about  3  feet;  average  weight  about  20  pounds.  They 
are  caught  in  weirs,  traps,  gill  nets,  and  seines,  and  with  hook  and 
line.  The  name  is  sometimes  applied  to  the  white  bass  (Roccus 
chrysops)  of  the  Great  Lakes  region. 

Sturgeon  {Acipenseridse). — A  food  fish  found  on  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  coasts  and  in  many  inland  waters.  The  various  species  are 
known  as  "lake  sturgeon,"  "white  sturgeon,"  "shovelnose,"  etc. 
The  Atlantic  sturgeon  attains  a  length  of  5  to  12  feet  and  a  weight 
of  400  to  500  pounds.  They  are  caught  in  drift  nets,  pound  nets, 
weirs,  and  seines,  and  by  sptearing  and  "gaffing."  They  are  sold 
fresh,  pickled,  and  smoked,  for  food;  "caviar"  is  manufactured 
from  their  eggs;  the  skin  is  made  into  leather;  the  sounds  are  used 
in  the  manufacture  of  glue  and  isinglass;  a  valuable  oil  is  some- 
times obtained  from  the  parts  not  used  for  food;  and  the  refuse  is 
used  for  fertilizing  purposes. 

Sucker  (Calostomidas) . — A  food  fish,  of  which  some  58  species  are 
found  in  most  of  the  fresh  waters  of  the  United  States.  The  different 
species  are  known  as  "May  sucker,"  "mud  sucker,"  "chub  sucker," 
etc.,  "rabbit-mouth,"  "harelip,"  "split-mouth,"  "red  horse," 
"mullet,"  "creek-fish,"  "black  horse,"  "buffalo-fish,"  "mooga- 
dee,"  etc.  They  vary  in  size,  all  attaining  a  length  of  at  least  a  foot. 
They  are  caught  with  hook  and  lin^,  spears,  nets,  snares,  etc. 

SuK-KEGH. — See  Blueback. 

Sulphur-bottom  whale  (Sibbaldius  sul  fureus). — The  largest 
known  cetacean,  reaching  a  length  of  100  feet.  It  is  found  in  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  and  is  captured  only  by  the  use  of  the  bomb  lance. 
It  is  valuable  for  its  oil  and  baleen. 

SuNFisH  {Eupomotis  gibbosus). — A  food  fish  found  in  the  Great 
Lakes  region ,  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley,  and  the  coastwise  streams 
from  Maine  to  Georgia.  It  is  also  known  as  "sunny,"  "pumpkin- 
seed,"  "bream,"  etc.  It  averages  about  a  pound  in  weight  and  is 
caught  with  hook  and  line.  Relatetl  species  are  known  as  "sunfish," 
"long-eared  sunfish,"  "blue  sunfish,"  etc. 

The  ocean  sunfish  ( Mola  mola)  is  found  off  the  entire  coast  of  the 
United  States;  also  called  "headfish."  It  reaches  a  weight  of  500 
pounds,  and  yields  a  large  quantity  of  valuable  oil. 

SuRF-FisH  (Embiotocidse) . — A  food  fish  found  in  large  numbers 
along  the  Pacific  coast.  The  general  name  "perch"  is  applied  to 
them  everywhere  along  the  coast;  they  are  also  called  "pogy  "  and 
"porgy"  on  the  Oregon  coast,  "surf- fish"  south  of  Monterey,  and 
"minny,"  "sparada,"  "moharra,"  etc.,  along  their  northern  range. 
The  largest  attain  a  weight  of  4  pounds;  the  average  is  about  1 
pound.    See  Alfione. 

Surgeon-fish  ( Teuthis  hepatxis). — This  is  the  Tang  common  from 
Carolina  to  Florida.  It  is  a  good  food  fish.  Also  known  as  "lancet- 
fish,"  "doctor-fish,"  etc. 

SwELL-FiSH  (Tetraodontidss). — The  different  species  are  known  as 
"globe-fishes,"  "puffers,"  "swell-toad,"  etc.  They  are  common 
on  the  Atlantic  coast. 


SwoRDPisH  (Xiphias  gladius). — One  of  the  best  food  fishes  found 
the  entire  length  of  the  Atlantic  coast,  and  rarely  off  the  California 
coast.  The  average  weight  is  from  300  to  400  pounds.  It  is  cap- 
tured with  harpoons,  and  is  sold  fresh,  pickled,  and  salted.  The 
swords  are  sold  as  curiosities. 

Tailor. — The  "salt-water  tailor"  is  the  bluefish  (Pomalormis 
saltatrix)  of  North  Carolina,  Virginia,  and  Maryland.  The  "fresh- 
water tailor"  is  the  mattowacca  (Clupea  mediocris)  of  the  Potomac. 

Tarpon  ( Tarpon  atlanticus). — An  immense  herring-like  fish  found 
in  the  western  Atlantic  and  Gulf  of  Mexico.  It  is  also  called  "  jew- 
fish"  in  Georgia  and  Florida;  "grand  fcaille,"  or  "grandy-kye," 
and  "savanilla"  in  Texas;  and  "silver-fish"  at  Pensacola.  It 
attains  a  length  of  6  feet  and  a  weight  of  75  pounds,  and  is  caught  on 
hooks  and  in  seines.  It  is  seldom  used  for  food,  but  the  scales, 
which  are  from  1  to  3  inches  in  diameter,  are  sold  tor  ornaments. 

Tautog  (Tautoga  onitis). — A  food  fish  found  along  the  east  coast 
from  Maine  to  South  Carolina.  On  the  New  York  coast  it  is  called 
"blackfish;"  in  New  Jersey,  "blackfish,"  "tautog,"  and  "chub;" 
on  the  Virginia  coast,  "Moll"  and  "Will  George;"  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Chesapeake,  " salt-water  chub ; "  and  in  North  Carolina,  "oyster- 
fish."  The  average  weight  is  about  2  pounds;  average  length, 
about  15  inches.   It  is  caught  on  hooks,  and  in  pounds,  weirs,  and  nets. 

Ten-pounder  (Elops  saurus). — A  game  fish  found  in  America 
north  to  the  Carolinas  and  Gulf  of  California.  Also  known  as  "big- 
eyed  herring,"  "bony-fish,"  "piojo,"  "John  Mariggle,"  etc. 

Terrapin. — The  salt-water  terrapin  ( Malaclemmys  palustris)  is 
very  highly  prized  for  food.  It  is  found  in  salt  marshes  along  the 
coast  from  Massachusetts  to  Texas,  but  those  which  enter  into  com- 
merce are  principally  from  Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  Carolina  coast. 
They  are  also  called  "salt-marsh  turtle"  and  "diamond-back." 
The  average  weight  is  4  or  5  pounds.  They  are  taken  in  dredges, 
seines, "and  nets. 

The  fresh-water  terrapins  are  generally  distributed  south  of  the 
forty-first  parallel  of  latitude.  The  most  common  used  for  food  are 
the  "red-bellied  terrapin"  (Pseudemys  rugosa),  the  "mobilianer" 
{P.  mobiliensis),  and  the  "yellow-bellied  terrapin"  (P.  scahra). 

Thimble-eye. — See  Chub  mackerel. 

TiLEFisH  (Latilidx). — A  food  fish  found  along  the  Atlantic  and 
GuH  coasts,  and  on  the  Pacific  coast  south  of  Monterey.  The  Cali- 
fornia species  (Caulolatilus  princeps)  is  also  known  as  the  "white- 
fish"  and  "blanquillo."  The  Atlantic  species  (LopAoJatiiiis  chamx- 
leontiaps)  is  abundant  at  the  edge  of  the  Gulf  stream  southward 
from  Nantucket.     All  are  caught  with  hook  and  line. 

Tinker  mackerel. — See  Chub  mackerel. 

Toque. — See  Lake  trout. 

ToMCOD. — The  Atlantic  tomcod  (Microgadus  lomcod)  ranges  from 
New  York  to  Newfoundland,  often  ascending  rivers.  It  is  also 
known  as  the  "frostfish."  The  Pacific  tomcod  (M.  proximus)  ia 
found  from  Monterey  northward.  Each  species  reaches  a  length  of 
about  1  foot  and  a  weight  of  about  one-half  pound.  They  are  taken 
in  great  numbers  in  seines  and  sweep  nets,  and  with  hook  and  line. 
The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  kingfish  ( Menticirrhits  saxatilis)  on 
the  Connecticut  coast,  and  to  the  bocaccio  (Sebastodes  paucispinis) 
on  the  California  coast. 

Tortoise. — See  Turtle. 

Triple-tail  (Lobotes  surinamensis). — A  food  fish,  found  on  the 
Atlantic  coast  as  far  north  as  Cape  Cod,  abundant  South.  It  is  known 
in  South  Carolina  as  "black  perch, "  and  on  the  St.  Johns  River  as 
"grouper. "  It  attains  a  length  of  from  2  to  3  feet,  and  is  caught  with 
hook  and  line.    The  scales  are  sold  at  a  high  price  for  ornaments. 

Trout. — A  common  name  given  to  the  divisions  of  the  salmon 
family  formed  by  the  genus  Salmo  of  western  America,  the  genus 
Salvelinus  or  charrs,  and  the  genus  Cristivomer  or  Great  Lakes  trout. 
Salmo  is  represented  by  three  series — the  cutthroat  trout  (S.  clarkii), 
the  rainbow  trout  (S.  irideus),  and  steelhead  trout  (S.  rivularis). 
Salvelinus  is  represented  in  America  by  some  seven  species,  and 
Cristivomer  by  two.  See  Lake  trout,  Speckled  trout,  Rock  trout, 
Squeteague,  Black  bass,  and  Salmon. 


318 


FISHERIET  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  1908. 


Trunkfish  (Ostraciidss). — Different  species  are  known  as  "cuck- 
old," "cowfish,"  "horned  trunkfish,"  "spotted  trunkfish,"  etc. 
They  are  a  tropical  fish  found  in  small  numbers  on  the  Florida  coast. 

Tunny. — See  Horse-mackerel. 

TuRBOT. — 5ee  Flounder.  The  true  turbot  (Bothinx)  is  not  found 
on  the  American  coast. 

Turtles. — See  Green  turtle,  Hawks-bill  turtle,  Loggerhead,  and 
Terrapin, 

Unicorn. — See  Narwhal. 

Wall-eyed  pike. — See  Pike  perch. 

Walrus  {Odontobxntis  rosmarus  and  0.  obesus). — A  marine  mam- 
mal, found  in  the  north  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Oceans.  It  attains  a 
length  of  16  feet  and  a  weight  of  2,000  pounds;  averages  about  one- 
fourth  less.  They  are  captured  by  means  of  the  rifle,  harpoon,  and 
lance,  and  are  valuable  for  their  oil,  tusks,  hide,  and  flesh. 

Warmouth  (Chscnobrytlus  gulosus). — A  small  food  fish,  found 
abundantly  in  sluggish  waters  from  Virginia  to  Texas,  sometimes  as 
far  north  as  Lake  Michigan.  It  is  also  called  "perch, "  "sunfish,  " 
"goggle-eye,"  "red-eye,"  etc.  The  average  weight  is  about  1 
pound. 

White  bass  (Roccus  chrysops). — A  food  fish,  found  abundantly 
in  the  Great  Lakes  region  and  in  the  Ohio  and  upper  Mississippi, 
chiefly  in  deep  and  still  waters.  It  is  also  called  "striped  bass. " 
Its  usual  weight  is  from  1  to  3  pounds.  It  is  caught  on  hooks,  and 
ranks  high  as  a  food  fish. 

Whitefish  (Coregonus). — They  form  one  of  the  most  important, 
groups  of  fresh-water  fishes  of  America.  The  common  whitefish  (Ce 
dupea/ormis)  is  the  most  valued  of  the  tribe,  although  the  oth  ers  ar 
highly  esteemed  as  a  food.  It  is  found  in  the  Great  Lakes  region  and 
is  known  as  "humpback, "  "bowback,  "  and  "highback  "  whitefish; 
also  as ' '  Otsego  bass  "  in  the  neighborhood  of  Otsego  Lake,  N .  Y.  It 
is  caught  chiefly  in  gill  nets,  and  averages  less  than  4  pounds  in 
weight.  Other  economic  species  are  the  Rocky  Mountain  whitefish 
(C.  willtamsoni);  the  Menominee  whitefish  (C.  quadrilateralis)  also 
locally  known  as  "round  whitefish,"  "frostfish,"  "shadwater, " 
"pilot  fish,"  "chivey, "  "blackback, "  etc.  The  whitefishes  be- 
long to  the  salmon  family.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  bluefish 
{Pomatomus  saltatrix)  on  the  Hudson;  to  the  menhaden  (Brevoortia 
tyrarm/as)  in  western  Connecticut;  to  the  tilefi.sh  {Caulolatilus 
princeps)  in  California;  and  to  the  beluga  (Delphinapterus  leucas) 
by  whalers. 


White  perch  {Morone  amcricana). — This  bass  is  an  important  food 
fish,  found  very  abundantly  along  the  Atlantic  coast  from  South  Caro- 
lina to  Nova  Scotia;  it  also  occurs  in  brackish  waters  in  the  mouths 
of  rivers,  and  is  sometimes  landlocked  in  fresh-water  ponds.  It  is 
the  common  "perch  "  of  the  fisheries  of  the  Middle  Atlantic  states. 
The  average  length  is  8  to  9  inches.  It  is  caught  with  seines,  nets, 
hook  and  line,  etc.,  and  is  used  very  extensively  for  food.  The 
name  is  also  applied  to  the  fresh-water  drum  (Aplodinotus  grun- 
niens)  in  the  Ohio  River,  and  to  the  porgee  {Damalichthys  argyroso- 
mus)  on  the  California  coast. 

Whiting  {Menlidrrhus  saxatilis). — This  fish  is  otherwise  known  as 
the  "kingfish"  and  "sea-mink";  it  is  abundant  from  Cape  Ann  to 
Pensacola.  The  sand-whiting  (M.  mnericanus),  also  known  as 
"deep-water  whiting, "  is  abundant  from  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Texas. 
The  surf-whiting  (M.  litlorulis),  also  called  the  ' 'silver- whiting, "  is 
common  from  the  Carolinas  to  Texas.  The  California  whiting  (J/. 
undulalus)  is  also  known  as  the.  "sand-sucker. "  On  the  coast  of 
Florida  they  are  variously  known  as  "kingfish,"  "barb,"  "bull- 
head whiting, "  and  "ground  mullet.  "  They  attain  a  length  of  10 
inches  and  a  weight  of  1+  pounds.  They  are  caught  with  hook  and 
line  and  in  seines,  and  are  a  food  fish  of  considerable  importance. 
The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  harvest-fish  {Peprilus  paru)  at  Nor- 
folk, Va.,  and  to  the  silver  hake  [Merlucdus  bilmearis)  on  the  New 
England  coast. 

Wolf-fish  {Anarh-khas  Iv/pus). — A  large  fish  found  off  the  New 
England  coast  north  of  Nantucket  Shoals.  It  is  also  called  "cat- 
fish. "  The  average  length  is  about  4  feet;  average  weight  about  25 
pounds.  It  is  caught  on  hooks  and  in  seines,  and  is  sold  fresh,  salted, 
and  dried  and  smoked. 

Yellowtail  {Bairdiella  chrysura). — An  excellent  food  fish  found 
on  the  Atlantic  coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Texas;  it  is  especially 
abundant  South.  It  is  called  "silver  perch"  on  the  coast  of 
New  Jersey,  and  "mademoiselle"  at  Pensacola.  It  averages  8 
inches  in  length.  The  name  is  also  applied  to  the  menhaden 
{Brevoortia  tyrannus)  from  North  Carolina  to  Florida;  to  the 
runner  (Elagatis  bipinnulatus)  at  Pensacola;  to  the  sailor's 
choice  (Lagodon  rhomboides)  in  the  Indian  River  region;  to  the 
amber-fish  {Seriola  dorsalis)  on  the  California  coast  south  of 
Santa  Barbara;  and  to  the  green  rockfish  {Sebastichlhys  Jlavidus) 
at  Monterey. 


INDEX 


Abalone,  comparison  with  previous  census, 
26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  42. 

Africa,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291;  of  imports,  293. 

Alabama,  summary  of  fisherios,  ]*;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  79-82. 

Alaska,  salmon  product  of  canneries  and 
packing  houses,  283;  rank  in  value,  283; 
cod  packed,  284,  285. 

Albacore,  or  horse  mackerel,  origin  of  name, 
9;  quantity  and  ^'alue,  by  geographic 
divisions,  26;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  34. 

Alewives,  origin  of  name,  9;  rank  in  value, 
24;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  26;  by  apparatus  of  capture, 
30;  by  states,  34;  detailed  statistics  re- 
garding, 47.     See  also  Alewives  and  roe. 

Alewives  and  roe,  canned  and  preserved, 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  281,  287; 
by  method  of  treatment,  286,  287;  quan- 
tity, 287. 

Alligator  hides.     See  Hides. 

Amber-fish,  or  jack-fish,  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  26;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  30;  by  states,  34. 

Anchovies,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divasions,  26;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  34.  See  also  An- 
chovies and  sardines. 

Anchovies  and  sardines,  imports,  by  country 
from  which  imported,  292.  See  also  Sar- 
dines. 

Angel-fish.  See  Moonfish,  angel-fish,  or 
spadefish. 

Apparatus  of  capture,  variety  of,  8,  21,  22; 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  11,  22; 
by  Atlantic  coast  state  groups,  11;  in 
states  on  Chesapeake  Bay,  12;  on  Great 
Lakes,  12;  by  commercial  fisheries,  19; 
by  states,  21,  79-279;  detailed  statistics, 
22;  products  by,  29,  30,  44,  46.  See  also 
Apparatus  of  capture  and  outfit. 

Apparatus  of  capture  and  outfit,  comparison 
with  former  censuses,  10.    See  also  Outfit. 

Areentina,  value  of  exports  of  domestic 
fishery  products  to,  291. 

Arkansas,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailea  statistics,  82-84. 

Asia,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291;  of  imports,  293. 

Asiatic  Russia,  imports  of  fishery  products, 
293. 

Atlantic  coast  district,  exclusive  of  Long 
Island  Sound,  fishery  products  of,  205. 

Atlantic  coast  di\'ision,  summary  of  statis- 
tics, n ;  by  Atlantic  coast  state  groups, 
11 ;  persons  employed,  salaries,  and  wages, 
by  main  branches  of  indu.stry,  14,  16;  per 
cent  of  persons  engaged  in  fishing,  15; 
capital  invested  in  vessels  and  boats,  20, 
22,  23;  average  tonnage  of  vessels,  21,  23; 
number,  23;  products,  by  species,  26;  by 
class  of  fisheries  and  apparatus  of  capture, 
29;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and 
oysters,  summary,  by  geographic  divisions. 


281;  value  of  products,  281,  287;  of  by- 
products,   282;  cod    packed,    284,    285; 
oysters  canned,  285. 
Atlantic  Ocean  district,  fishery  products  of, 
108,  151,  258,  259,  262. 

Barracuda,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  26;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 30;  by  states,  34;  pickled,  287. 

Bass,  black,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  26;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  34. 

crappie  and  strawberry,  quantity  and 

value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;     by  states,  3.5. 

rock,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 30;  by  states,  38. 

sea,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  39. 

striped,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  40. 

white,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 32;  by  states,  40. 

Beam  trawls,  number  and  value,  22;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products  caught  by,  by 
geographic  divisions,  29;  by  states,  45. 

Belgium,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292, 
293. 

Black  bass.     See  Bass. 

Black  cod.    See  Cod. 

Bluefish,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  34; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  48. 

Boat  fisheries.    See  Shore  and  boat  fisheries. 

Boats,  comparison  with  former  censuses,  10; 
use  of  term,  20;  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 20,  22,  23;  number  and  tonnage,  23; 
detailed  statistics,  by  states,  79-279. 

■ row,   value,   by  geographic  divisions, 

22,  23;  number  and  tonnage,  23. 

sail,  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  22, 

23;  number  and  tonnage,  23. 

steam  and  motor,  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  22,  23;  number  and  tonnage,  23. 
See  also  Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit. 

Bonito,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  26;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  34. 

Bowfins.    See  Dogfish,  or  bowfins. 

Brazil,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291. 

Bream  and  sunfish,  use  of  term,  9;  quantity 
and  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  26; 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  34. 

British  India,  imports  of  fishery  products, 
292. 

British  South  Africa,  imports  of  fishery  prod- 
ucts, 292. 

British  West  Indies,  imports  of  fishery  prod- 
ucts, 293. 

Brook  trout.    See  Trout. 

Buffalo  fish,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  26;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  35; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  48. 

Bureau  of  Fisheries,  cooperation  in  can- 
vass, 7,  8. 


Butterfish,  use  of  term,  10;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  26;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  35. 

California,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21;  quantity 
and  value  of  products,  25,  34;  detailed 
statistics,  84-91;  canning  and  preserving, 
fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by-producto, 
282;  salmon  product  of  canneries  and 
packing  houses,  283;  rank  in  value,  283; 
sardines  packed,  284;  cod  packed,  284, 
285. 

Canada,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292, 293. 
See  also  Canada,  Newfoundland,  and  Lab- 
rador. 

Canada,  Newfoundland,  and  Labrador,  value 
of  exports  of  domestic  fishery  products  to, 
291. 

Canning  and  preserving,  fish  and  oysters, 
classification  of  establishments  engaged 
in,  9;  comparison  with  former  censuses, 
280;  statistics,  by  geographic  divisions, 
280;  products,  by  kind,  281;  by  species, 
281,  287;  by-products,  282;  food  products, 
286. 

Capital,  amount,  by  geographic  divisions, 
11,  22;  by  Atlantic  coast  state  groups,  11; 
in  states  on  Chesapeake  Bay,  12;  on  Great 
Lakes,  12;  leading  items  of,  19;  states  re- 
porting more  than  $2,000,000, 19.  -See  also 
Capital,  not  including  shore  and  accessory 
property  and  cash  and  Equipment  and 
other  capital. 

Capital,  not  including  shore  and  accessory 
property  and  casli,  comparison  with 
former  censuses,  10. 

Carp,  German,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity 
and  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  26; 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  35; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  49. 

Cash,  use  of  term,  19;  amount  invested  in 
commercial  fisheries,  19.  See  also  Shore 
and  accessory  property  and  cash. 

Catfish,  origin  of  name,  9;  rank  in  value,  24; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  di- 
visions, 26;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  35;  detailed  statistics  regard- 
ing, 51. 

Caviar,  quantity  and  value,  by  get^raphic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41;  exports  of,  291.  See  also 
Sturgeons  and  caviar. 

Central  America,  value  of  exports  of  domes- 
tic fishery  products  to,  291. 

Central  division.  See  Eastern  and  central 
divisions. 

Chesapeake  Bay,  persons  employed,  12,  16; 
capital,  and  value  of  products,   12. 

Chesapeake  Bay  district,  fishery  products  of, 
150,  257,  259,  261. 

Chile,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291. 

Chinese  Empire,  imports  of  fishery  products, 
292,  293. 

Clams,  rank  in  value,  24;  comparison  with 
previous  census,  26;  detailed  statistics  re- 
garding, 52;  canned  and  preserved,  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  281.  287;  by 
method  of  treatment,  286,  287;  quantitv, 
287. 

(319) 


320 


INDEX. 


Clams,  hard,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi 
sions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32 
by  states,  42. 

razor,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9 

quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32 
by  states,  42. 

soft,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,   9 

quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi 
Bions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32 
by  states,  42. 

surf,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9 

quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32 
by  states,  42. 

Cobia,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  26;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30 
by  states,  35.  ♦ 

Cockles,  winkles,  and  conchs,  pounds  of 
meat  per  bushel,  9;  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  32;  by  states,  42. 

Cod,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  27;  byapparatusof 
capture,  30;  by  states,  35;  detailed  statis- 
tics regarding,  52;  canned  and  preserved, 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  281,  287; 
by  states,  284,  285;  by  method  of  treat- 
ment, 286, 287;  quantity,  281, 284, 285, 287. 

black,   quantity  and  value,   by  geo- 
graphic  divisions,    26;   by   apparatus   of- 
capture,  30;  by  states,  34. 

cultus,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 30;  by  states,  36.  See  also  Cod,  had- 
dock, hake,  and  pollack. 

Cod,  haddock,  hake,  and  pollack,  exports  of, 
291;  imports,  by  country  from  which  im- 
ported, 292. 

Colorado,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18. 

Columbia  River  district,  fishery  products  of, 
224,  268. 

Conchs.    See  Cockles,  winkles,  and  conchs. 

Connecticut,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  per- 
•  sons  employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  capital,  19;  quantity  and  value  of  prod- 
ucts, 25,  34;  detailed  statistics,  91-96. 

Crabs,  length  of  season,  17;  rank  in  value,  24; 
comparison  with  previous  census,  26; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  54;  canned 
and  preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 281,  287;  by  method  of  treatment, 
286,  287;  quantity,  287. 

hard,  quantity  and  value,  bygeographic 

divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41. 

king,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41. 

soft,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41. 

spider,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32. 

stone,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  41. 

Crappie  and  strawberry  bass?    See  Bass. 

Crawfish,  comparison  with  previous  census, 
26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41. 

Crevall6,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  35. 

Croaker,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  35. 

Crustaceans,  quantity  and  value,  24;  com- 
parison with  previous  census,  26. 

Cuba,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291 ;  of  imports,  293. 


Cultus  cod.    See  Cod. 

Cumberland  and  Tennessee  Rivers,  fishery 
products  of,  245. 

Cunner,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  36. 

Cusk,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  di- 
visions, 27;  by  apparatus  or  capture,  30; 
by  states,  3(3;  canned  and  preserved,  value, 
by  method  of  treatment,  286,  287;  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  287;  quantity,  287. 

Delaware,  summary  of  fisheries,  12,  13;  per- 
sons employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  96-99. 

Delaware  River  and  Bay  district,  fishery 
products  of,  230. 

Detroit  River.  See  Lake  St.  Clair  and  St. 
Clair  and  Detroit  Rivers. 

District  of  Columbia,  persons  employed,  not 
including  shoresmen,  18. 

Dogfish,  or  bowfins,  quantity  and  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  36. 

Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  etc.,  value,  22;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products  caught  by,  by 
geographic  divisions,  29;  by  species,  31; 
by  states,  45. 

Drum,  origin  of  name,  9;  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  30;  by  states,  36. 

Eastern  and  central  divisions,  salmon  prod- 
uct of  canneries  and  packing  houses,  283. 

Eelpout.    See  Ling,  or  eelpout. 

Eels,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  di- 
visions, 27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  36. 

Employees.  See  Persons  employed  and  Sal- 
aried employees. 

Equipment  and  other  capital,  amount,  by 
geographic  divisions,  22;  by  states,  79-279. 
See  also  Capital. 

Europe,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291;  of  imports,  293. 

European  Russia,  imports  of  fishery  prod- 
ucts, 292. 

Exports,  comparison  with  imports,  288; 
value  of,  288,  289,  291;  by  country  to 
which  exported,  291. 

Fertilizer,  value,  by  geographic  divisions, 
281,  282;  by  states,  282.  See  also  Fertili- 
zer, oil,  and  glue. 

Fertilizer,  oil,  and  glue,  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  287. 

Firm  members,  use  of  term,  14. 

Fish,  confusion  in  common  names  of,  9;  dis- 
tribution, 24;  comparison  with  previous 
census,  26;quantity  and  value,  by  species, 
26,  30;  by  geographic  divisions,  26;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  34, 
79-279;  canned  and  preserved,  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  281,  287;  by  kind, 
281, 287;  by  method  of  treatment,  286,  287; 
quantity,  287;  exports  of,  291;  imports,  by 
kind  and  country  from  which  imported, 
292. 

Fish  oil.    See  Oil. 

Fisheries,  general,  difficulty  attending  cen- 
sus of,  7 ;  comparison  with  former  censuses, 
10;  summary,  13;  products,  by  apparatus 
of  capture  andgeographic  divisions,  29;  by 
states,  79-279;  detailed  statistics,  47-78. 

Fishermen,  exclusive  of  shoresmen,  com- 
parison with  former  censuses,  10;  prevail- 
ing nationality,  17;  detailed  statistics,  by 
states,  79-279. 

Fishery  products,  quantity  and  value,  24; 
detailed  statistics,  by  states,  79-279 ;  values 
of  imports  and  exports,  288;  exportii,  by 
kind,  291 ;  by  country  to  which  exported, 
291;  imports,  by  kind,  292;  by  country 
from  which  imported,  292,  293.  See  also 
Products. 


Fishing  vessels.    Sec  Vessels. 

Florida,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  peisona 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
21;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  100-110;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by- 
products, 282;  oysters  canned,  285;  shrimp 
and  prawn  preserved,  286. 

Flounders,  use  of  terra,  9;  rank  in  value,  24; 
quantity  and  value,  by  gec^raphic  divi- 
sions, 27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by 
states,  36;  detailed  statistics  regarding,  56. 

Food  fish,  quantity  and  value,  24 ;  comparison 
with  previous  census,  26.    See  also  Fish. 

Food  products,  canning  and  preserving,  fish 
and  oysters,  value,  286.   See  also  Products. 

France,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292,  293. 

Frogs,  comparison  with  previous  census,  26; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by 
states,  41. 

Fyke  and  hoop  nets.     See  Nets. 

Geographic  divisions,  summary  of  fisheries 
by,  11;  persons  employed,  14,  15;  tonnage 
or  vessels,  21;  equipment  and  other  capi- 
tal, 22;  number,  tonnage,  and  value  of 
vessels  and  boats,  23;  products,  26,  29, 
47-78;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and 
oysters,  summary,  281;  products,  281,  287; 
by-products,  282;  salmon  product  of  can- 
neries and  packing  houses,  283;  cod 
packed,  284,  285;  oysters  canned,  285. 

Georgia,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  110-113;  oysters 
canned,  285. 

Gorman  carp.     See  Carp,  German. 

Germany,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fish- 
ery products  to,  291;  of  imports,  292,  293. 

Gill  nets.     See  Nets. 

Glue,  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  281, 
282;  by  states,  282.  See  also  Fertilizer, 
oU,  and  glue. 

Great  Lakes  and  Mississippi  River  divisions, 
canning  and  preserving,  fish  and  oysters, 
value  of  products,  281.  See  also  Miasis- 
sippi  River  division. 

Great  Lakes  division,  summary  of  statistics, 
11;  persons  employed,  by  main  branches 
of  industry,  14;  by  lakes  and  rivers,  16; 
salaries  and  wages,  14;  per  cent  of  persons 
engaged  in  fishing,  15;  capital  invested  in 
vessels  and  boats,  20,  22;  average  tonnage 
of  vessels,  21,  23;  number,  23;  products, 
by  species,  26;  by  class  of  fisheries  and 
apparatus  of  capture,  29;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  summary,  by 
geographic  divisions,  281;  value  of  prod- 
ucts, 281,  287;  of  by-products,  282.  See 
also  Great  Lakes  and  Mississippi  River 
divisions. 

Greece,  imports  of  fishery  products,  293. 

Grouper,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  36. 

Grunts,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  or  capture,  30; 
by  states,  36. 

Gulf  of  Mexico  district,  fishery  products  of, 
107,  136,  137,  183,  184. 

Gulf  of  Mexico  division,  summary  of  statis- 
tics, 11;  persons  employed,  salaries,  and 
wages,  by  main  branches  of  industry,  14; 
per  cent  of  persons  engaged  in  fishing,  15; 
capital  invested  in  vessels  and  boats,  20, 
22,  23;  average  tonnage  of  vessels,  21,  23; 
number,  23;  products,  by  species,  26;  by 
class  of  fishenes  and  apparatus  of  capture, 
29;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and  oys- 
ters, summary,  by  geographic  divisions, 
281;  value  of  products,  281,  287;  of  by- 
I      products,  282;  oysters  canned,  285. 


INDEX. 


821 


Haddock,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  36; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  56;  canned 
and  preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 281,  287;  by  method  of  treatment, 
286,  287;  quantity,  281,  287.  See  also 
Cod,  haddock,  hake,  and  pollack. 

Hake,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  30;  by  states,  36;  detailed  sta- 
tistics regarding,  57;  canned  and  pre- 
served, value,  by  geographic  division.s, 
281,  287;  by  method  of  treatment,  28G, 
287;  quantity,  287. 

silver,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27 ;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 32;  by  states,  39.  See  also  Cod,  had- 
dock, hake,  and  pollack. 

Halibut,  origin  of  name,  9;  rank  in  value, 
24;  quantityand value, by geographicdivi- 
sions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by 
states,  36;  detailed  statistics  regarding,  57; 
canned  and  preserved,  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  281,  287;  by  method  of 
treatment,  286,  287;  quantity,  287. 

Hard  clams.     See  Clams. 

Hard  crabs.    See  Crabs. 

Harpoons,  spears,  etc.,  value,  22;  quantity 
and  value  of  products  caught  by,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  29;  by  species,  31;  by 
states,  45. 

Haul  seines.    See  Seines. 

Herring,  origin  of  name,  9;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  sta,tes,  37; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  58 ;  exports  of, 
291;  imports,  by  country  from  which  im- 

Eorted,  292;  canned  and  preserved,  value, 
y  geographic  divisions,  281,  287;  by 
method  of  treatment,  286,  287;  quantity, 
281,  287. 

lake,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 

value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  37; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  59;  canned 
and  preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 281,  287;  by  method  of  treatment, 
286,  287;  quantity,  281,  287. 

salt-water,  rank  in  value,  24. 

Hickory  shad.    See  Shad. 

Hides,  alligator,  comparison  with  previous 
census,  26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  43. 

• porpoise,    comparison   with    previous 

census,  26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  43.  See  also  Hides, 
pelts,  and  skins. 

Hides,  pelts,  and  skins,  comparison  with 
previous  census,  26. 

Hogfish.    See  Pigfish,  or  hogfish. 

Hongkong,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292, 
293. 

Hoop  nets.     -See  Fyke  and  hoop  nets. 

Horse  mackerel.  See  Albacore,  or  horse 
mackerel. 

Idaho,    persons    employed,    not    including 

shoresmen,  18. 
Illinois,  summary  of  fisheries,   13;  persons 

employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 

value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products,  25,  34;  detailed 

statistics,  113-120. 
Imports,  comparison  with  exports,  288;  value 

of,  288,  290,  292;  by  kind  of  product,  292; 

by  country  from  which  imported,  292,  293. 
Independent  fishermen.   See  Proprietors  and 

independent  fishermen. 
Indiana,  summary  of  fi.sheries,  13;  persons 

employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 

quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 

detailed,  statistics,  120-123. 


Iowa,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons  em- 
ployed, not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed;  statistics,  124-126. 

Irish  moss,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 32;  by  states,  44. 

Italy,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292,  293. 

Jack-fish.    See  Amber-fish,  or  jack-fish. 

Japan,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292,  293. 

Jewfish,  origin  of  name,  9;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by  ap- 
paratus of  capture,  30;  by  states,  37. 

Jurel,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  37. 

Kansas,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18;  quantity  and  value  of 
products,  25,  34;  fisheries  of,  126,  127. 

Kentucky,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed;  statistics,  127-130. 

King  crabs.    See  Crabs. 

Kingfish,  origin  of  name,  9.  See  also  Whit- 
ing and  kingfish. 

Labrador.    See  Canada,  Newfoundland,  and 

Labrador. 
Ladyfish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 

by  states,  37. 
Lake  Erie,  persons  employed,  12, 16;  capital, 

and  value  of  products,  12. 
Lake  Erie  district,  fishery  products  of,  172, 

206,  220,  231. 
Lake  herring.     See  Herring. 
Lake  Huron,  persons  employed,  12,  16;  cap- 
ital, and  value  of  products,  12. 
Lake  Huron  district,  fishery  products  of,  171. 
Lake  Michigan,  persons  employed,  12,   16; 

capital,  and  value  of  products,  12. 
Lake  Michigan  district,  fishery  products  of, 

119,  123,  170,  275,  278. 
Lake  Ontario,  including  Niagara   and    St. 

Lawrence  Rivers,  persons  employed,  12, 

16;  capital,  and  value  of  products,  12. 
Lake  Ontario  district,  fishery  products  of, 

207. 
Lake  St.  Clair  and   St.  Clair  and   Detroit 

Rivers,  persons  employed,  12,  16;  capital, 

and  value  of  products,  12. 
Lake  St.  Clair  district,  fishery  products  of, 

172. 
Lake   Superior,  persons  employed,  12,  16; 

capital,  and  value  of  products,  12. 
Lake  Superior  district,  fishery  products  of, 

171,  178,  276,  279. 
Lake  trout.    See  Trout. 
Lines,  hand,  trawl,  and  set,  value,  21,   22; 

quantity  and  value  of  products  caught  by, 

by  geographic  divisions,  29;  by  species, 

30;  by  states,  45. 
Ling,  or  eelpout,  quantity  and   value,   by 

geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 

capture,  30;  by  states,  37. 
Livers,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 

by  states,  43. 
Lobster,  rank  in  value,  24;  comparison  with 

Crevious  census,  26j  quantity  and  value, 
y  geographic  divisions,  28;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  32;  by  states,  41;  detailed  sta- 
tistics regarding,  61 ;  imports,  by  country 
from  which  imported,  292. 

spiny,  comparison  with  previous  cen- 
sus, 26 ;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41;  detailed  statistics  regard- 
ing, 62. 

Long  Island  Sound,  fishery  products  of,  206. 

Louisiana,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 


detailed  statistics,  130-137;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of 
by-products,  282;  oysters  canned,  285; 
shrimp  and  prawn  preserved,  286. 

Mackerel,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  37; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  62;  canned 
and  preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 281,  287;  by  method  of  treatment, 
286,  287;  quantity,  287;  exports  of,  291; 
imjjorts,  by  country  from  which  im- 
ported, 292. 

Spanish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  39. 

Maine,  summary  of.  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
21;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  138-145;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by- 
products, 282;  sardines  packed,  284;  cod 
packed,  284,  285. 

Market  oysters.     See  Oysters. 

Maryland,  summary  of  fisheries,  12,  13; 
persons  employed,  not  including  shores- 
men, 18;  capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus 
of  capture,  21;  quantity  and  value  of 
products,  25,  34;  detailed  statistics, 
145-152;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and 
oysters,  value  of  by-products,  282;  oysters 
canned,  285. 

Massachusetts,  summary  of  fisheries,  13; 
persons  employed,  not  including  shores- 
men, 18;  capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus 
of  capture,  21;  quantity  and  value  of 
products,  25,  34;  detailed  statistics,  152- 
164;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and  oys- 
ters, value  of  by-products,  282;  sardines 
packed,  284;  cod  packed,  284,  285; 
shrimp  and  prawn  preserved,  286. 

Menhaden,  origin  of  name,  9;  rank  in  value, 
24;  comparison  with  previous  census,  26; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by 
states,  37;  detailed  statistics  regarding, 
63. 

Menhaden  fisheries,  comparison  with  former 
censuses,  10. 

Mexico,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fishery 
products  to,  291;  of  imports,  292,  293. 

Michigan,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
21;  quantityand  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  165-173. 

Middle  Atlantic  states,  fisheries  of,  11;  per- 
sons employed,  salaries,  and  wages,  16. 

Mink  skins.     See  Skins. 

Minnesota,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  per- 
sons employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  173-178. 

Minnows,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  37. 

Mississippi,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  per- 
sons employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  178-184;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by- 
products, 282;  oysters  canned,  285;  shrimp 
and  prawn  preserved,  286. 

Mississippi  River  district,  fishery  products 
of,  118,  130,  136,  177,  183,  187,  245,  275. 

Mississippi  River  division,  summary  of 
statistics,  11;  persons  employed,  salaries, 
and  wages,  by  main  branches  of  industry, 
14;  per  cent  of  persons  engaged  in  fishing, 
15;  capital  invested  in  vessels  and  boats, 
20,  22,  23;  average  tonnage  of  vessels,  21, 
23;  number,  23;  products,  by  species,  26; 
by  class  of  fisheries  and  apparatus  of  cap- 


76786°— 11- 


-21 


322 

ture,  29;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and 
oysters,  summary,  by  geographic  divisions, 
281 ;  value  of  products,  287 .  See  also  Great 
Lakes  and  Mississippi  River  divisions. 

Missouri,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  185-187. 

Missouri  River  district,  fishery  products  of, 
126,  187. 

Mollusks,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9; 
rank  in  value,  24;  comparison  with  pre- 
vious census,  26. 

Montana,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18. 

Moonfish,  angel-fish,  or  spadefish,  (juantity 
and  value,,  by  geographic  divisions,  27; 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  37. 

Motor  boats.     See  Steain  and  motor  boats. 

Mullet,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  37; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  64;  canned 
and  preserved,  value,  by  method  of  treat- 
ment, 286,  287;  by  geographic  divisions, 
287;  quantity,  287. 

Muskallunge,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 30;  by  states,  38. 

Muskrat  skins.    See  Skins. 

Mussel  shells.    See  Shells. 

Mussel  shells,  pearls,  and  slugs,  rank  in  value 
of  product,  24;  comparison  with  previous 
census,  26.    See  also  Pearls  and  slugs. 

Mussels,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  di- 
visions, 28;  byapparatusof  capture,  32;  by 
states,  42;  detailed  statistics  regarding,  65. 

Mutton-fish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27 ;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 30;  by  states,  38. 

Names,  confusion  in  regard  to,  9. 

Nebraska,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18;  quantity  and  value  of 
products,  25,  34;  fisheries  of ,  188. 

Netherlands,  imports  of  fishery  products, 
292,  293. 

Nets,  value  of  all  classes,  21;  quantity  and 
value  of  products  caught  by,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  29. 

fyke  and  hoop,  rank  in  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 21;  number  and  value,  22;  quantity 
and  value  of  products  caught  by,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  29;  by  species,  31;  by 
states,  44. 

gill,  rank  in  apparatus  of  capture,  21; 

number  and  value,  22 ;  quantity  and  value 
of  products  caught  by,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 29;  by  species,  30;  by  states,  44. 

— —  trammel,  number  and  value,  22;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products  caught  by,  by 
geographic  divisions,  29;  by  species,  31; 
by  states,  45.  See  also  Pound  nets,  trap 
nets,  and  weirs. 

Nevada,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18. 

New  England  states,  fisheries  of ,  11;  persons 
employed,  salaries,  and  wages,  16. 

New  Hampshire,  persons  employed,  not  in- 
cluding shoresmen,  18;  quantity  and  value 
of  products,  25,  34;  fisheries  of,  189. 

New  Jersey,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  per- 
sons employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  189-195;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by- 
products, 282. 

New  Mexico,  persons  employed,  not  includ- 
ing shoresmen,  18. 

New  York,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
21;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  195-210;  salmon  prod- 


INDEX. 

uct  of  canneries  and  packing  houses,  283; 
rank  in  value,  283;  sardines  packed,  284. 

Newfoundland.  See  Canada,  Newfound- 
land, and  Labrador  anrf  Newfoundland  and 
Labrador. 

Newfoundland  and  Labrador,  imports  of 
fishery  products,  292,  293.  See  also  Can- 
ada, Newfoundland,  and  Labrador. 

Niagara  River.  See  Lake  Ontario,  including 
Niagara  and  St.  Lawrence  Rivers. 

North  America,  value  of  exports  of  domestic 
fishery  products  to  countries  of,  291;  of 
imports,  293. 

North  Carolina,  summary  of  fisheries,  13; 
persons  employed,  not  including  shores- 
men, 18;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  211-217;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by- 
products, 282;  oysters  canned,  285. 

North  Dakota,  persons  employed,  not  in- 
cluding shoresmen,  18. 

Norway,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292, 
293.    See  also  Norway  and  Sweden. 

Norway  and  Sweden,  imports  of  fishery 
products,  293.    See  also  Sweden. 

Oceania,  value  of  exports  of  domestic  fish- 
ery products  to,  291;  of  imports,  293. 

Ohio,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons  em- 
ployed, not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products,  25,  34;  detailed 
statistics,  217-221. 

Ohio  River  district,  fishery  products  of,  118, 
123,  129,  221. 

Oil,  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  281,282; 
by  states,  282. 

fish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  43;  exports  of,  291. 

porpoise,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  43. 

sea-elephant,  quantity  and  value,  by 

geographic  divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
C£tpture,  32;  by  states,  44. 

seal,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  44. 

sperm,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  44. 

whale,  comparison  with  previous  cen- 
sus, 26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture, 
32;  by  states,  44;  exports  of,  291. 

whale  and  fish,  imports,  by  country 

from  which  imported,  293.  See  also  Fer- 
tilizer, oil,  and  glue. 

Oklahoma,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18;  quantity  and  value  of 
products,  25,  34;  fisheries  of,  221. 

Oregon,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products,  25,  34;  de- 
tailed statistics,  221-225;  canning  and 
preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by- 
products, 282;  salmon  product  of  canneries 
and  packing  houses,  283;  rank  in  value, 
283;  oysters  canned,  285. 

Otter  skins.    See  Skins. 

Outfit,  use  of  term,  20;  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  23.  See  afeo  Apparatus  of 
capture  and  outfit  and  Vessels  and  boats, 
including  outfit. 

Oyster  fisheries,  comparison  with  former 
censuses,  10. 

Oysters,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9; 
length  of  season,  17;  rank  in  value,  24; 
comparison  with  previous  census,  26;  de- 
tailed statistics  regarding,  66;  canned  and 
preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divisions, 
281,  287;  by  states,  285;  by  method  of 


treatment,  286,  287;  quantity,  281,  287; 
exports  of,  291. 

Oysters,  market,  from  private  and  public 
areas,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  byapparatusof  capture, 32; 
by  states,  42. 

seed,  from  private  and  public  areas, 

quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  42. 

Pacific  coast  district,  fishery  products  of, 
225. 

Pacific  coast  division,  summary  of  statis- 
tics, 11;  persons  employed,  salaries,  and 
wages,  by  main  branches  of  industry,  14; 
per  cent  of  persons  engaged  in  fishing,  15; 
capital  invested  in  vessels  and  boats,  20, 
22,  23;  average  tonnage  of  vessels,  21,  23; 
number,  23;  products,  by  species,  26;  by 
class  of  fisheries  and  apparatus  of  capture, 
29;  canning  and  preserving,  fish  and 
oysters,  summary,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 281;  value  of  products,  281,  287; 
of  by-products,  282;  quantity  and  value 
of  salmon,  283;  cod  packed,  284,  285; 
oysters  canned,  285. 

Pacific  Ocean  district,  fishery  products  of, 
268,  270. 

Paddlefish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  38. 

Pearl  fishing,  method  of,  66. 

Pearls  and  slugs,  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by 
states,  43.  See  also  Mussel  shells,  pearls, 
and  slugs. 

Pelts.    See  Hides,  pelts,  and  skins. 

Pennsylvania,  summary  of  fisheries,  13; 
persons  employed,  not  including  shores- 
men, 18;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  225-231;  cod  packed, 
284.  See  also  Susquehanna  River  fish- 
eries. 

Perch,  origin  of  name,  9;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30. 

pike,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 

value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  38; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  68;  frozen 
and  fresh,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  287. 

■ white,  quantity  and  value,  by  states, 

38. 

yellow,  quantity  and  value,  by  states, 

38. 

Permit,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  38. 

Persons  employed,  number,  by  geographic 
divisions,  11,  14;  in  Atlantic  coast  aivi- 
sion,  11,  16;  in  states  on  Chesapeake  Bay, 
12,  16;  on  Great  Lakes,  12,  16;  salaries 
and  wages,  by  geographic  divisions  and  by 
main  branches  of  industry,  14  j  per  cent 
distribution,  15;  comparison  with  former 
censuses,  18;  detailed  statistics,  by  states, 
79-279. 

Persons  employed,  not  including  shores- 
men, comparison  with  former  censuses,  18; 
detailed  statistics,  by  states,  79-279. 

Pickerel.    See  Pike  and  pickerel. 

Pigfish,  or  hogfish,  origin  of  name,  9;  quan- 
tity and  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27; 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  38. 

Pike,  Sacramento,  quantity  and  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  38. 

Pike  and  pickerel,  quantity  and  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  38. 

Pike  perch.    See  Perch. 

Pinfish.    See  Sailor's  choice,  or  pinfiah. 


INDEX. 


828 


Pollack,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by  ap- 
paratus of  capture,  30;  by  states,  38;  de- 
tailed statistics  regarding,  69;  canned  and 
preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divisions, 
281,  287;  by  method  of  treatment,  286, 
287;  quantity,  287.  -See  also  Cod,  had- 
dock, hake,  and  pollack. 

Pompano,  origin  oi  name,  10;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by  ap- 
paratus of  capture,  30;  by  states,  38. 

Porgy,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  38. 

Porkfish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture, 
30;  by  states,  38. 

Porpoise  hides.    See  Hides. 

Porpoise  oil.     See  Oil. 

Portugal,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292, 
293. 

Pots  and  traps,  number  and  value,  22;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products  caught  by,  by 
geographic  divisions,  29;  by  species,  31; 
by  states,  45. 

Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and  weirs,  variation 
in  value,  21;  rank  in  apparatus  of  capture, 
21;  number  and  value,  22;  quantity  and 
value  of  products  caught  by,  by  geographic 
divisions,  29;  by  species,  30;  by  states, 
44. 

Prawn.    See  Shrimp  and  prawn. 

Preserving.    See  Canning  and  preserving. 

Products,  comparison  with  former  censuses, 
10;  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  11,  22, 
29;  by  Atlantic  coast  state  groups,  11;  in 
states  on  Chesapeake  Bay,  12;  on  Great 
Lakes,  12;  by  commercial  fisheries,  19;  by 
species,  24,  26,  30,  34;  by  states,  25,  34,  44, 
79-279;  by  general  classes,  26;  by  class  of 
fisheries,  29;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  29, 
30,  44;  detailed  statistics,  47-78;  canning 
and  preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  by  kind, 
281;  quantity  and  value,  281,  282,  287; 
values  of  imports  and  exports,  288;  ex- 
ports, by  kind,  291;  by  country  to  which 
exported,  291;  imports,  by  kind  and  coun- 
try from  which  imported,  292.  ;iS'€e  also 
Fishery  products  and  Food  products. 

Property .  See  Shore  and  accessory  property 
and  cash. 

Proprietors  and  independent  fishermen,  use 
01  term,  14;  number,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions and  by  main  branches  of  industry, 
14;  in  Atlantic  coastdivision,  16;  percent 
distribution  and  per  cent  of  total  persons 
employed,  15;  detailed  statistics,  by 
states,  79-279. 

Purse  seines.     See  Seines. 

Rakes.    See  Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  etc. 

Razor  clams.    See  Clams. 

Red  snapper.    See  Snapper. 

Redfish,  or  rosefish;  quantity  and  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  30;  by  states,  38. 

Rhode  Island,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  per- 
sons employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  231-236. 

Rock  bass.    See  Bass. 

Rockfish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  38. 

Roe.    See  Alewives  and  roe. 

Rosefish.     See  Redfish. 

Round  robin,  q'uantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  27;  byapparatuBof  cap- 
ture, 30;  by  states,  38. 

Rowboats.    See  Boats. 

Sacramento  pike.    See  Pike. 
Sailboats.    See  Boats. 


Sailor's  choice,  or  pinfish,  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27;  by  ap- 
paratus of  capture,  30;  by  states,  39. 

St.  Clair  River.  See  Lake  St.  Clair  and  St. 
Clair  and  Detroit  Rivers. 

St.  Lawrence  River.  See  Lake  Ontario,  in- 
cluding Niagara  and  St.  Lawrence  Rivers. 

Salaried  employees,  number,  by  geographic 
divisions  and  by  main  branches  of  indus- 
try, 14;  in  Atlantic  coast  division,  16;  per 
cent  distribution  and  per  cent  of  total  per- 
sons employed,  15;  detailed  statistics,  by 
states,  79-279. 

Salaries,  amount,  by  geographic  divisions 
and  by  main  branches  of  industry,  14;  in 
Atlantic  coast  division,  16;  by  states,  79- 
279. 

Salmon,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27 ;  by  ap- 
paratus of  capture,  30;  by  states,  39;  de- 
tailed statistics  regarding,  69;  canned  and 
preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divisions, 
281,  287;  by  states,  283;  by  method  of 
treatment,  283,  286,  287;  quantity,  281, 
287;  exports  of,  291;  imports,  by  country 
from  which  imported,  292. 

Salt-water  herring.    See  Herring. 

Sardines,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  39;  canned  and  preserved,  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  281,  287;  by 
states,  283,  284;  by  method  of  treatment, 
286,  287;  quantity,  281,  287.  -See  also 
Anchovies  and  sardines. 

Scallop  rims.    -See  Scallops  and  scallop  rims. 

Scallops,  pounds  of  meat  per  bushel,  9; 
(quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  states,  42.  See  also  Scallops 
and  scallop  rims. 

Scallops  and  scallop  rims,  comparison  with 
previous  census,  26;  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  32;  by  states,  42. 

Scup,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  39. 

Sea  bass.    -Sec  Bass. 

Sea  grass,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  44. 

Sea  robin,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30; 
by  states,  39. 

Sea-elephant  oil.    -See  Oil. 

Seal  oil.    -See  Oil. 

Seal  skins.    -See  Skins. 

Seed  oysters.    -See  Oysters. 

Seines,  rank  in  apparatus  of  capture,  21; 
number  and  value,  22;  quantity  and 
value  of  products  caught  by,  by  geographic 
divisions,  29;  by  species,  30;  by  states,  44. 

— —  haul,  rank  in  apparatus  of  capture,  21; 
number  and  value,  22. 

purse,  rank  in  apparatus  of  capture,  21 ; 

number  and  value,  22. 

Shad,  origin  of  name,  9;  rank  in  value,  24; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by 
states,  39;  detailed  statistics  regarding, 
71;  frozen  and  fresh,  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  287. 

hickory,  origin  of  name,  9;  quantity 

and  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27; 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  30;  by  states,  37. 

Shark,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  39. 

Sheepshead,  origin  of  name,  9;  cjuantity 
and  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  27; 
by  apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by  states,  39. 

Shellfish,  exports  of,  291. 

Shells,  mussel,  comparison  with  previous 
census,  26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 


graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  43.  -Sec  also  Mussel 
shells,  pearls,  and  slugs. 

Shore  and  accessory  property,  use  of  term,  19; 
value,  by  commercial  fisheries,  19.  Seealso 
Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash. 

Shore  and  accessory  property  and  cash, 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  11,  22; 
by  Atlantic  coast  state  groups,  11;  in 
states  on  Chesapeake  Bay,  12;  on  Great 
Lakes,  12.    -See  also  Cash. 

Shore  and  boat  fisheries,  salaries  and  wages, 
14,  16;  persons  employed,  14;  per  cent  of 
total  number,  15;  number,  in  Atlantic 
coast  division,  16;  in  Che.sapeake  Bay  dis- 
trict, 16;  capital  invested  in,  19;  average 
tonnage  of  vessels,  21,  23;  number  and 
value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  22;  of  prod- 
ucts, 29;  detailed  statistics,  by  states, 
79-279. 

Shoresmen,  use  of  term,  14;  salaries  and 
wages,  14,  16;  number  employed,  14;  per 
cent  of  total  number,  15;  number,  in 
Atlantic  coast  division,  16;  in  Chesapeake 
Bay  district,  16. 

Shrimp  and  other  shellfish  (except  lobster) 
and  turtles,  imports,  by  country  from 
which  imported,  292.    -See  also  Turtles. 

Shrimp  and  prawn,  rank  in  value,  24;  com- 
parison with  previous  census,  26;  quantity 
and  value,  by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by  states,  41: 
detailed  statistics  r^;arding,  72;  canned 
and  preserved,  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 281,  287;  by  states,  285;  by  method 
of  treatment,  286,  287;  quantity,  281,  287. 

Silver  hake.    See  Hake. 

Skates,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  27;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  39. 

Skins,  detailed  statistics  regarding,  73. 

mink,  comparison  with  previous  cen- 
sus, 26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  43. 

muskrat,    comparison    with    previous 

census,  26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 32;   by  states,  43. 

otter,  comparison  with  previous  census, 

26;  C[uantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  43. 

seal,  comparison  with  previous  census, 

26;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by 
states,  43.    See  also  Hides,  pelts,  and  skins. 

Slides.     See  Wheels  and  slides. 

Slugs.  See  Pearls  and  slugs  and  Mussel 
shells,  pearls,  and  slugs. 

Smelt,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  39. 

Snapper,  rank  in  value,  24;  q^uantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by  states,  39; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  74. 

red,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 

divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  39;  detailed  statistics  regarding, 
74. 

Soft  clams.    See  Clams. 

Soft  crabs.     See  Crabs. 

Sounds,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  43;  imports,  by  country  from 
which  imported,  292. 

South  America,  value  of  exports  of  domestic 
fishery  products  to,  291;   of  imports.  293. 

South  Atlantic  states,  fisheries  of,  11;  per- 
sons employed,  salaries,  and  wages,  16. 

South  Carolina,  summary  of  fisheries,  13; 
persons  employed,  not  including  shores- 
men, 18;  quantity  and  value  of  productfi, 


824 


INDEX. 


25,34;  detailed  statistics,  237-241;  oysters 
canned,  285;  shrimp  and  prawn  preserved, 
286. 

South  Dakota,  persons  employed,  not  in- 
cluding shoresmen,  18;  quantity  and 
value  of  products,  25,  34;  fisheries  of,  241, 
242. 

Spadefish.  See  Moonfiah,  angel-fish,  or  spade- 
fish. 

Spain,  imports  of  fishery  products,  282,  293. 

Spanish  mackerel.     See  Mackerel. 

Spears.     See  Harpoons,  spears,  etc. 

Sperm  oil.     See  Oil. 

Spider  crabs.     -See  Crabs. 

Spiny  lobster.     See  Lobster. 

Sponge  apparatus,  value,  22;  quantity  and 
value  of  products  caught  by,  by  geographic 
divisions,  29. 

Sponge  fisheries,  comparison  with  former 
censuse.s,  10. 

Sponges,  rank  in  value,  24;  comparison  with 

Erevious  census,  26;  quantity  and  value, 
y  geographic  divisions,  28;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  32;  by  states,  43;  detailed 
statistics  regarding,  74;  exports  of,  291; 
imports,  by  country  from  which  imported, 
293. 

Spot,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  39. 

Squeteague,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by  states,  40; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  74. 

Squid,  comparison  with  previous  census,  26; 
quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by 
states,  43. 

States,  fisheries  by,  13, 25,47-78;  persons  em- 
ployed, 18;  capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus 
of  capture,  21;  detail  summary,  34;  prod- 
ucts, by  apparatus  of  capture,  44;  detailed 
statistics,  79-279;  canning  and  preserving, 
fish  and  oysters,  value  of  by-products,  282; 
salmon  product  of  canneries  and  packing 
houses,  283;  sardines  packed,  284;  cod 
packed,  284,  285;  oysters  canned,  285; 
shrimp  and  prawn  preserved,  286. 

Steam  and  motor  boats.    See  Boats. 

Stone  crabs.    See  Crabs. 

Strawberry  bass.  See  Crappie  and  straw- 
berry bass. 

Striped  bass.    See  Bass. 

Sturgeons,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 32;  by  states,  40;  detailed  statistics 
regarding,  75;  smoked,  and  frozen  and 
fresh,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  287.  See  also  Sturgeons  and 
caviar. 

Sturgeons  and  caviar,  canned  and  preserved, 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  281,  287; 
by  method  of  treatment,  286,  287;  quan- 
tity, 287.    See  also  Caviar. 

Suckers,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  40. 

Sunfish.    See  Bream  and  sunfish. 

Surf  clams.     See  Clams. 

Surf-fish,  or  viviparous  perch,  origin  of  name, 
9;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by 
states,  40. 

Susquehanna  River  district,  fishery  products 
of,  231. 

Susquehanna  River  fisheries,  persons  em- 
ployed, J2,  16;  capital,  and  value  of 
products,  12. 

Sweden,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292. 
See  also  Norway  and  Sweden. 

Swordfish,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  40. 


Tautog,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  "by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  40. 

Tennessee,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  242-245. 

Tennessee  River.  See  Cumberland  and 
Tennessee  Rivers. 

Terrapin,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  stales,  43.  See  also  Terrapin  and  turtles. 

Terrapin  and  turtles,  comparison  with  pre- 
vious census,  26.     See  also  Turtles. 

Texas,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons  em- 
ployed, not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
quantity  and  value  of  products,  25,  34; 
detailed  statistics,  245-250. 

Tomcod,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  40. 

Tongs.    See  Dredges,  tongs,  rakes,  etc. 

Tonnage,  by  classes  of  vessels,  21;  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  21,  23. 

Trammel  nets.    See  Nets. 

Transporting  vessels.    See  Vessels. 

Trap  nets.  See  Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and 
weirs. 

Traps.     See  Pots  and  traps. 

Trout,  use  of  term,  9. 

— —  brook,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28 ;  by  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 32;  by  states,  40. 

lake,  rank  in  value,  24;  quantity  and 

value,  by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by 
apparatus  of  capture,  32;  by  states,  40; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  60. 

Turtles,  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  oi  capture,  32; 
by  states,  43.  See  also  Terrapin  and  tur- 
tles and  Shrimp  and  other  shellfish  (ex- 
cept lobster)  and  turtles. 

United  Kingdom,  value  of  exports  of  do- 
mestic fishery  products  to,  291;  of  imports, 
292,  293. 

Utah,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18. 

Venezuela,  imports  of  fishery  products,  292. 

Vermont,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18. 

Vessel  crew,  use  of  term,  14. 

Vessel  fisheries,  salaries  and  wages,  14,  16; 
persons  employed,  14;  per  cent  of  total 
number,  15;  number,  in  Atlantic  coast 
division,  16;  in  Chesapeake  Bay  district, 
16;  capital  invested  in,  19,  20;  average  ton- 
nage of  vessels,  21,  23;  number  and  value 
of  apparatus  of  capture,  22;  of  products, 
29;  detailed  statistics,  by  states,  79-279. 

Vessels,  comparison  with  former  censuses, 
10;  use  of  term,  19;  classes  of,  20;  capital 
invested  in,  20,  22;  average  tonnage,  21, 23; 
number  and  value,  by  geographic  diviiiions, 
23;  detailed  statistics,  by  states,  79-279. 

— —  fishing,  capital  invested  in,  20,  22; 
average  tonnage,  21,  23;  number  and 
value,  by  geographic  divisions,  23. 

transporting,  salaries  and  wages,  14,  16; 

persons  employed,  14;  per  cent  of  total 
number,  15;  number,  in  Atlantic  coast 
division,  16;  in  Chesapeake  Bay  district, 
16;  capital  invested  m,  20,  22;  average 
tonnage,  21,  23j  number  and  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  23.  See  also  Vessels, 
including  outfit,  and  Vessels  and  boats, 
including  outfit. 

Vessels,  including  outfit,  capital  invested  in, 
by  geographic  divisions,  22. 

Vessels  and  boats,  including  outfit,  value,  by 
geographic  divisions,  11;  by  Atlantic 
coast  state  groups,  11;  in  states  on  Chesa- 


peake Bay,  12;  on  Great  Lakes,  12;  by 
commercial  fisheries,  19;  detailed  statis- 
tics, by  states,  79-279.  See  also  Boats. 
Virginia,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus  of  capture, 
21;  quantity  and  value  of  products,  25, 
34;  detailea  statistics,  251-262;  canning 
and  preserving,  fish  and  oysters,  value  of 
by-products,  282;  oysters  canned,  285. 

Wage-earners,  number,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions and  by  main  branches  of  industry, 
14;  in  Atlantic  coast  division,  16;  percent 
distribution  and  per  cent  of  total  persons 
employed,  15;  general  statistics  regarding, 
17;  by  states,  79-279. 

Wages,  amount,  by  geographic  divisions  and 
by  main  branches  of  industry,  14;  in  At- 
lantic coast  division,  16;  general  statistics 
regarding,  17;  by  states,  79-279. 

Washington,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  per- 
sons employed,  not  including  shoresmen, 
18;  capital,  19;  value  of  apparatus  of  cap- 
ture, 21;  quantity  and  value  of  products, 
25,  34;  detailed  statistics,  262-270;  can- 
ning and  preserving,  fish  and  oysters, 
value  of  by-products,  282;  salmon  product 
of  canneries  and  packing  houses,  283;  rank 
in  value,  283;  cod  packed,  284,  285;  oys- 
ters canned,  285. 

Weirs.  See  Pound  nets,  trap  nets,  and 
weirs. 

West  Indies,  value  of  exports  of  domestic 
fishery  products  to,  291;  of  imports,  292, 
293. 

West  Virginia,  persons  employed,  not  in- 
cluding shoresmen,  18;  quantity  and  value 
of  products,  25,  34;  fisheries  of,  270. 

Whale  fisheries,  comparison  with  former  cen- 
suses, 10. 

Whale  oil.     See  Oil. 

Whale  products,  quantity  and  value,  24; 
comparison  with  previous  census,  26; 
detailed  statistics  regarding,  76. 

Whalebone,  comparison  with  previous  cen- 
sus, 2G;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  43;  exports  of,  291;  imports,  by 
country  from  which  imported,  293. 

Whaling  apparatus,  quantity  and  value  of 
products  caught  by,  by  geographic  divi- 
sions, 29. 

Wheels  and  slides,  number  and  value,  22; 
quantity  and  value  of  products  caught  by, 
by  geographic  divisions,  29;  by  states,  45. 

White  bass.    See  Bass. 

White  perch.    See  Perch. 

Whitefish,  origin  of  name,  9;  rank  in  value, 
24;  quantity  and  value,  by  geographic 
divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of  capture,  32; 
by  states,  41;  detailed  statistics  regarding, 
77;  canned  and  preserved,  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  281,  287;  by  method  of 
treatment,  286,  287;  quantity,  287. 

Whiting,  origin  of  name,  9 .  See  also  Whiting 
and  kingfish. 

Whiting  and  kingfish,  quantity  and  value, 
by  geographic  divisions,  28;  by  apparatus 
of  capture,  32;  by  states,  41. 

Winkles.    See  Cockles,  winkles,  and  conchs. 

Wisconsin,  summary  of  fisheries,  13;  persons 
employed,  not  including  shoresmen,  18; 
value  of  apparatus  of  capture,  21;  quan- 
tity and  value  of  products,  25,  34;  de- 
tailed statistics,  270-279. 

Wyoming,  persons  employed,  not  including 
shoresmen,  18. 

Yellow  perch.    See  Perch. 

Yellowtail,  quantity  and  value,  by  geo- 
graphic divisions,  28;  by  apparatus  of 
capture,  32;  by  states,  41. 


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